Tribute to Fallen Officer in NYC

On Thursday morning, police officers in New York City lined the streets to pay respects to a colleague who tragically lost his life earlier this week. Didarul Islam, an officer, was among four people killed when a gunman opened fire in a midtown Manhattan office building on Monday evening.

Islam, a 36-year-old immigrant from Bangladesh, was a father of two, and his wife was expecting their third child at the time of his death.

The Islamic service started with a viewing at Parkchester Jame Masjid, a mosque located in the Bronx. Prior to the viewing, officers in uniform formed four rows outside the mosque.

Following the viewing, prayer services were held. Islam will be laid to rest in a cemetery located in Totowa, New Jersey.

He was off-duty but working security at the building, which housed notable companies like Blackstone and the NFL headquarters.

Islam had previously served as a school safety agent before becoming a patrol officer four years ago. He was assigned to precincts in the Bronx, where he lived with his family.

“He was doing the job we asked him to do,” remarked Police Chief Jessica Tish shortly after the incident. “He made the ultimate sacrifice. He died while he lived. Hero.”

The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, a former NYPD officer himself, met with Muslim families and attended the dignified transfer of the deceased officer. Adams described Islam as embodying the spirit of the city, noting that he was “not just the uniform he wore, but a true blue New Yorker.”

In a concerning development, authorities identified the shooter as 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, who had a history of mental health challenges. Witnesses reported that Tamura started filming in the lobby before moving to another floor and pointing his weapon at others.