Bangladeshi-American Police Officer Didarul Islam Among 5 Killed in New York Shooting

New York City witnessed a tragic shooting incident on Monday evening as five people, including Bangladeshi-American police officer Didarul Islam, were killed in a high-rise office building in Midtown Manhattan. The shooter, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, opened fire at 345 Park Avenue and later turned the gun on himself.

The violence began around 6:30 p.m. when Tamura arrived in a black BMW and entered the 44-story building with an M4 rifle. Upon entering the lobby, he shot Officer Didarul Islam, who was assigned to the NYPD’s 47th Precinct in the Bronx but was on duty at the building at the time. Tamura then continued firing inside the building, killing a woman who tried to hide behind a pillar, a security guard at the front desk, and another man present in the lobby.

Witnesses reported that Tamura spared one woman who exited the elevator before he went up to the 33rd floor, where he shot another woman and then took his own life. The building houses the Rudin Management Company office on that floor.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch confirmed the attack and praised Officer Didarul for his dedication, saying he was carrying out his duty and showed immense courage. Mayor Eric Adams condemned the act as “heinous” and “vile.”

Officer Didarul Islam, aged 36, was a father of two, with his wife expecting their third child. A Bangladeshi immigrant, he had been serving with the NYPD for over three years. Authorities revealed that the shooter, Tamura, had a valid firearms license in Nevada and a record of mental health issues, although it is still unclear whether that was a factor in the killings. Before arriving in New York, Tamura reportedly traveled through several U.S. states.