NYPD Officer From Bangladesh Killed in Midtown Manhattan Shooting
The slain officer was named Didarul Islam. His wife is eight months pregnant with their third child.
NEW YORK CITY — A tragic shooting in Midtown Manhattan claimed the life of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant, along with three others at 345 Park Avenue.
The incident, occurring during rush hour on Monday evening, has left New York City mourning the loss of a dedicated officer whose journey from Bangladesh to the NYPD exemplified resilience and service.
Officer Didarul Islam, born in Bangladesh, immigrated to the United States with dreams of a better life. Growing up in a close-knit Muslim family, he carried values of faith and community that shaped his path.
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While specific details of his journey from Bangladesh are limited, colleagues shared that Islam often spoke of his pride in becoming an American citizen and his determination to serve his adopted city.
One anecdote from a fellow officer recalls Islam’s first day at the NYPD academy, where he arrived with a worn notebook filled with English phrases he’d practiced to communicate better with his peers, a testament to his commitment to integrating into his new home.
Islam, a three-and-a-half-year veteran of the NYPD, was working a private security detail at the skyscraper, home to major tenants like the NFL and Blackstone, when he was fatally shot in the back by Shane Devon Tamura, a 27-year-old from Las Vegas with a documented mental health history.
Tamura, armed with an assault rifle, killed four people, including Islam, and critically injured a fifth before taking his own life on the 33rd floor. Authorities are still investigating Tamura’s motives, with no clear explanation for the attack described as “pure evil.”
Mayor Eric Adams called Islam a “true blue New Yorker” whose deep faith and dedication defined him. “He came to this country with nothing but a dream and gave everything to protect this city,” Adams said at a press conference outside Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Islam leaves behind a wife, eight months pregnant with their third child, and two young sons. His family’s grief is compounded by the sudden loss of a man who balanced his roles as a devout Muslim, loving father, and committed officer.
The shooting disrupted Midtown, with road closures from East 48th to East 55th Streets and a heavy emergency response, including NYPD helicopters and FBI agents. Islam was one of two uniformed officers on a paid detail; the second officer survived with injuries.
Tributes have flooded in, with colleagues calling him a “hero brother.” A post on X read, “Didarul Islam, a Bangladeshi Muslim immigrant, died protecting NYC. May Allah grant him Jannah.”
EMS First shared on Instagram: “Tonight, a hero’s chair sits empty, his sacrifice immeasurable.”Islam’s journey from Bangladesh to the NYPD reflects the broader story of Bangladeshi migration.
Many Bangladeshis, like Islam, navigate complex pathways to the U.S., often driven by economic opportunity or escape from political instability. While specific details of Islam’s immigration path are not fully documented, his success as an NYPD officer highlights the contributions of Bangladeshi immigrants, who form a significant diaspora in the U.S., with over 7.4 million Bangladeshis living abroad, sending billions in remittances home annually.
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