Harry Styles stops Madison Square Garden show to address Bronx ICE shooting of Oscar Belgal, urging the crowd to ‘Look after each other’
A call for compassion.
Harry Styles recently used his massive platform at Madison Square Garden to highlight the shooting of Oscar Belgal. According to Billboard, the singer paused his show on Saturday, October 10, 2026, during his ongoing residency to address the incident. Belgal was shot by ICE agents in the Bronx while his five-year-old son sat in the backseat. Styles spoke directly to the sold-out crowd while holding his guitar.
“I just want us to take a moment to think about Oscar Belgal tonight,” Styles said. He did not explicitly name the agency involved during his speech. However, he clearly referenced the broader context of recent immigration enforcement actions. The singer focused on the importance of compassion in his message to fans. “I want us to just think, [to] remember, to just look after each other,” he urged.
Styles continued by emphasizing the kind of world he wants to see for future generations. “It is up to us to make the cities that we live in places we want to see,” he told the crowd. “It’s up to us to make the world a place that we want to see, that we want to give to our children.” He encouraged the audience to treat others with kindness regardless of where they were born.
Styles asked his audience to treat others with kindness
The actor and singer said, “So please continue looking after each other, and remember, your friends, the people you love, the people who don’t look like you and aren’t born where you are from: they deserve respect, love, dignity.” He concluded his remarks by telling the crowd to get home safely.
The incident involving Belgal occurred on October 8 in the Marble Hill neighborhood. NYPD commissioner Jessica S. Tisch stated that Belgal was backing into a parking spot when plainclothes officers surrounded him. The vehicle began to move forward, and at least one officer fired seven shots. Belgal sustained a gunshot wound to the neck during the encounter. His young son remained physically unharmed, though the child was present in the vehicle throughout the ordeal.
Federal officials have described Belgal as an “illegal alien gang member” from the Dominican Republic. ICE official Marcos Charles stated that Belgal refused orders to exit his vehicle. He claimed the driver smashed into two government vehicles and weaponized his car against officers. According to Charles, the agents believed their lives and the lives of the public were in danger.
Belgal’s lawyers have disputed these claims
Legal counsel for Belgal, provided by The Legal Aid Society and Make the Road New York, disputes these claims. They recently shared that their client is suffering from severe injuries while in federal custody. Belgal currently remains at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His attorneys report that he still has a bullet lodged in his neck, per Newsweek. They also noted that the left side of his face is numb and he has difficulty hearing.
“While he is currently in solitary confinement, a bullet remains lodged in his neck, the left side of his face is numb, and he can barely hear out of his left ear,” the legal team stated. They also mentioned a shoulder wound caused by shattered glass during the incident. Doctors reportedly told Belgal he needs urgent surgery, but the procedure was deemed too dangerous to perform immediately. His lawyers describe his current detention conditions as deplorable.
‘A 5-year-old child sits traumatized and terrified’
Mayor Zohran Mamdani held a press conference following the shooting to condemn the tactics used by federal agents. “What happened today was an outrage,” the mayor said. He questioned the use of plainclothes officers wearing construction vests and masks. He pointed out the danger to families and children in the area at the time of the shooting. “Tonight, a 5-year-old child sits traumatized and terrified,” Mamdani noted.
The mayor expressed his frustration with the agency’s presence in the city. “We know that ICE is rotten to its core. Today’s shooting is only further devastating confirmation of what we have long known.” State Senator Julia Salazar also expressed her horror regarding the event. She believes federal agencies involved in such shootings should not exist.
Conversely, GOP Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the enforcement actions. “We’re not putting a pause on enforcement. I’m sorry, we’re not. In fact, I’m not sorry,” he told the press. The situation highlights a growing divide between local leadership and federal policy.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred
At least 10 non-citizens have been injured in shootings involving ICE agents since the start of the current administration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently issued new guidance regarding vehicle stops in October. This guidance includes a prohibition on vehicle chases. Despite these updates, lawyers for Belgal argue that the agency continues to demonstrate a disregard for human dignity.
Styles continues his residency at Madison Square Garden through October 31. His tour remains a major cultural event following the success of his latest album. He is slated to perform again on October 14. Fans have been documenting his interactions and speeches throughout the entire run. His message of unity at the Garden reflects the ongoing tension surrounding these federal operations in New York City.
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