Report: ICE Supervisor at Manhattan Shooting Has History of Misconduct Claims
A WIRED investigation identified Brenden Cuni, an ICE supervisor, as the agent seen with a rifle at the scene of a Thursday shooting in upper Manhattan. Federal court records and public accounts accuse Cuni of unlawful arrests and excessive force in New York and Minneapolis. Judges have found some arrests involving him unlawful, and one called a warrant he signed fraudulent.
A WIRED investigation named Brenden Cuni, a supervisor in ICE’s National Fugitive Operations unit, as the person recorded carrying a modified AR-15-style rifle at Thursday’s upper Manhattan shooting scene. The footage showed him in a bright yellow construction vest; the weapon had a pistol grip, sling, and holographic sight.
Court records and public reports link Cuni to contested arrests in New York City and Minneapolis, including during last winter’s Operation Metro Surge. Allegations include Tasering a restrained man and forcing a pregnant woman down. Judges have deemed some arrests improper; one described a warrant he signed as fraudulent, another found video conflicted with his sworn version, and a third saw his sworn account withdrawn as inaccurate.
This report could deepen public scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement, especially in New York and Minneapolis, where residents and immigrant communities may feel less safe cooperating with authorities. It may also affect how courts and oversight bodies view cases involving the named supervisor, while fueling broader debate over agent accountability and use-of-force standards. The impact remains uncertain and may depend on further reporting, official reviews, and legal outcomes.