New York City — A city reeling from tragedy is now rallying around the story of one man: Officer Didarul Islam. The 36-year-old NYPD officer, originally from Bangladesh, was fatally shot early Thursday morning during a shooting rampage in a Midtown Manhattan office building that claimed four lives, including his own.
Islam, who had served with the NYPD for over three years, was praised for his courage and unwavering dedication to his adopted homeland. “He was a hero in uniform, but also a hero in spirit,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “He loved this city. Everyone we’ve spoken to described him as a man of deep faith—someone who lived his life with purpose and compassion.”
The gunman, identified as 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura of Las Vegas, had a history of mental illness and turned the weapon on himself after the attack, authorities confirmed. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Tamura’s motive remains unclear, but his mental health history is well-documented.
Officer Islam leaves behind a grieving family—his wife, who is eight months pregnant with their third child, and two young sons. “This is an unimaginable loss for our department and our city,” Commissioner Tisch said. “He embodied everything we ask of our officers: strength, empathy, and sacrifice.”
For many in the Bangladeshi-American community, Islam represented the very best of immigrant spirit. “He is our hero immigrant of 2025,” Mayor Adams said. “His story reminds us that courage knows no borders and service has no language but love.”
Tributes have poured in across New York—from precincts to prayer halls—as residents remember a man who gave everything to protect a city he called home. A candlelight vigil is scheduled to be held in Brooklyn later this week in honor of Officer Islam.
From Bangladesh to Brooklyn, his journey was not just one of migration—it was one of meaning. In life and in loss, Didarul Islam has inspired a city to stand together.
