Muslim Immigrant Hero Dies Protecting NYC as Misinformation Spreads
Off-Duty Officer Shot Dead by American Gunman in Manhattan as Anti-Muslim Rhetoric Circulates Before Facts Emerge
A Muslim immigrant police officer died protecting New Yorkers when a gunman from Las Vegas opened fire in a Midtown Manhattan office building on Monday evening, July 28, yet social media figures immediately blamed Muslims for the attack before learning the victim's identity. Officer Didarul Islam, 36, a Bangladeshi-American father of two with a third child on the way, was fatally shot while working security at 345 Park Avenue when 27-year-old Shane Tamura began a shooting spree that killed four people and critically injured another.
The tragedy unfolded during evening rush hour when Tamura, armed with legally obtained firearms including an M4 carbine, entered the building's lobby and opened fire before taking his own life on the 33rd floor.
Anti-Muslim Backlash Precedes Tragic Reality
Before authorities identified either the shooter or the victims, prominent social media personalities, including Laura Loomer and Charlie Kirk, posted messages suggesting Muslim involvement in the attack. Kirk wrote on social media: "Just in NYC all weekend with our family. Never felt safe. So many people in the city who don't belong".
The irony proved devastating: the man who died protecting the city was himself a Muslim immigrant, while the shooter was an American citizen with legally purchased weapons. Tamura, a Nevada resident with documented mental health issues, had driven from Las Vegas to New York City over several days before carrying out the attack.
"When he joined the police department, his mother asked him why he would pursue such a dangerous job. He told her it was to leave behind a legacy that his family could be proud of," said New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, reflecting on Islam's motivation for public service.
A Life of Service Cut Short
Islam represented everything opponents of immigration claim to value: a dedicated public servant who left Bangladesh seeking better opportunities and spent three and a half years protecting New Yorkers. He lived in Parkchester in the Bronx, cared for elderly parents, and was assigned to the 47th Precinct.
At the time of his death, Islam was off-duty but in uniform, working an NYPD-authorized security detail for a private company in the building that houses offices for the Blackstone investment firm, the NFL headquarters, and KPMG. His wife is eight months pregnant with their third child, due next month.
"Police Officer Didarul Islam represented the very best of our department. He was protecting New Yorkers from danger when his life was tragically cut short today," the NYPD said in an official statement. "We join in prayer during this time of incomprehensible pain. We will forever honor his legacy."
Family Devastated by Loss
The shooting's aftermath has devastated Islam's family. His father suffered a stroke upon learning of his son's death and was hospitalized, while his pregnant wife was also hospitalized due to the trauma. The couple's two young sons, ages 7 and 5, now face life without their father.
"They are all crying," said a family member, describing the overwhelming grief that has consumed the household. Islam was his parents' only son, making the loss particularly devastating for the elderly couple he had been caring for.
Mayor Eric Adams, who met with Islam's family Monday evening, emphasized the officer's character and dedication. "He loved this city, and everyone we spoke with stated he was a person of faith and a person who believed in God and believed in living out the life of a godly person," Adams said during a press conference. "He embodies what the city is all about."
"Police Officer Didarul Islam represented the very best of our department. He was protecting New Yorkers from danger when his life was tragically cut short today."
— NYPD Official Statement
The Shooter's Journey to Violence
Investigators have pieced together Tamura's cross-country journey that ended in tragedy. He left his Las Vegas home on July 26, stopping in Colorado before continuing through Nebraska and Iowa on July 27. On July 28, he arrived in Columbia, New Jersey, at 4:24 p.m. before reaching Manhattan less than two hours later.
Tamura parked his 2011 BMW with Nevada license plates and expired registration outside 345 Park Avenue before entering through the west-facing entrance. Wearing body armor and carrying an M4 carbine, he immediately began shooting in the lobby, killing Islam and a woman who had taken cover behind a pillar.
The gunman then sprayed the lobby with gunfire, hitting another man before shooting a security guard at the elevators. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that Tamura allowed a woman inside an elevator to walk away unharmed before proceeding to the 33rd floor, where he shot at least one more person before barricading himself and taking his own life.
"When he joined the police department, his mother asked him why he would pursue such a dangerous job. He told her it was to leave behind a legacy that his family could be proud of."
— New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani
Official Response and Honors
President Donald Trump called the shooting "tragic" and expressed confidence that law enforcement would "get to the bottom of why this crazed lunatic committed such a senseless act of violence". He extended sympathies to victims' families and concluded, "God bless the New York Police Department, and God Bless New York".
Governor Kathy Hochul ordered flags at state buildings to fly at half-staff and wrote that Islam "represented the very best of New York". Mayor Adams ordered all city flags lowered to honor Islam and the other victims.
A dignified transfer ceremony was held overnight for the fallen officer, with community members, elected officials, and local leaders lining the street with their hands over their hearts as Islam's body was transported. Police departments from across the country, including Los Angeles, shared messages honoring the fallen officer.
The Deadliest Attack in Decades
The shooting represents the deadliest mass shooting in New York City since the 2000 Wendy's massacre in Queens. The massive emergency response included police, firefighters, the FBI, the NYPD bomb squad, drone units, and heavily armed officers, along with multiple ambulances and helicopters.
The building was placed on lockdown during a floor-by-floor search, with authorities closing streets from 50th to 53rd and the MTA bypassing area subway stations. Officials confirmed that Tamura acted alone and speculation suggests he may have been targeting the NFL headquarters but took the wrong elevators.
A Pattern of Prejudgment
The rush to blame Muslims before facts emerged reflects a troubling pattern in American discourse following violent incidents. Despite Islam's heroic service and ultimate sacrifice, initial social media reactions focused on blaming the very community he represented.
As noted by critics, the contradiction is stark: "The good guy with the gun was a Muslim from Bangladesh and serving New York Police Officer and the bad guy with the gun was a licensed white American". This reality challenges stereotypes about threats to public safety and highlights the contributions of immigrant communities to American law enforcement.
The tragedy underscores how quickly misinformation can spread and how anti-Muslim sentiment persists even when Muslims are the victims of violence. Islam's death while protecting others serves as a powerful counter-narrative to prejudiced assumptions about Muslim Americans and immigrants.
The investigation into Tamura's motives continues as the city mourns Officer Islam and the three civilian victims whose names have not yet been released. One survivor remains in critical but stable condition at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. As New York grapples with this senseless violence, Islam's legacy as a devoted father, son, and protector of his adopted city will endure long after the hatred that initially surrounded his death fades away.