The NYPD officer gunned down in Monday’s Manhattan mass shooting was working a second job in private security to support his growing family — with his wife just weeks away from giving birth to their third child.
Officer Didarul Islam, 36, was shot in the back by a gunman wielding an M4 assault rifle outside the Park Avenue skyscraper that houses Blackstone asset management and the NFL. In total, five people were killed in the rampage, including Islam.
A devoted father to two young boys, Islam’s family was preparing for the arrival of their newest child. He had been with the NYPD since December 2021 and regularly served in the Bronx’s 47th Precinct. On Monday night, he was working private security for Rudin Management Company while in uniform.
Tributes poured in within hours of his death.
“He was doing what he does best — saving lives,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “He was protecting New Yorkers. He’s an immigrant from Bangladesh, a man of faith, a man who believed in God and lived by his principles.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called Islam “a hero who died as he lived.”
Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, called the loss “devastating”:
“He was proud to wear that uniform every single day. He did whatever it took to provide for his family, whether it was overtime or side work.”
A Life of Service and Sacrifice
Friends and family described Islam as a mentor in the Bangladeshi-American community who often guided younger men toward better opportunities. He left a safer school security job to join the NYPD, telling loved ones he wanted to leave a lasting legacy his children could be proud of.
Family friend Marjanul Karim said Islam was looking forward to attending his wedding later this year. His brother-in-law Salman Ahmed added that Islam “loved his job and believed he was safe doing it.”
EMS First honored him in a moving tribute:
“Tonight, a chair at the dinner table is left empty. A family grieves a loss that cannot be measured. A hero made the ultimate sacrifice. Remember his name. Honor his service. Never forget his face.”
The Shooting
The gunman, identified as Shane Tamura, 27, of Las Vegas, entered 345 Park Avenue at around 6:30 p.m. armed with a silencer-equipped M4 rifle. Wearing a sport coat and button-down shirt, Tamura opened fire in the lobby before moving through the building.
Islam engaged the suspect during the initial onslaught but was fatally wounded. Tamura later took his own life on the 33rd floor.
Witnesses described “a barrage of automatic fire” as chaos erupted in Midtown. Workers fled with their hands up while others barricaded office doors.
Authorities are investigating whether Tamura had targeted the NFL offices in connection with grievances over chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
A City in Mourning
Gov. Kathy Hochul called the killings “a senseless act of violence that stole four New Yorkers, including one of our finest.” Attorney General Letitia James said she is praying for the victims and first responders.
Mayor Adams summed up the city’s grief:
“Four innocent families are mourning tonight. We lost a hero, a father, a protector of this city.”