A New York Police Department (NYPD) officer was among the five killed in mass shooting at Manhattan office building on Monday. The deceased also include the gunman who fatally shot himself, say the police.
A suspect had opened fire inside a midtown office tower when the 36-year-old NYPD officer, Didarul Islam, was working on a paid security detail in the building.
Here’s what we know about NYPD officer Didarul Islam killed in Manhattan mass shooting
According to news agency Reuters, Islam was a Bangladeshi immigrant, working in the New York police department for the last three and a half years. Islam is survived by his two sons and wife, who is currently pregnant with a third child.
“We lost four souls to another senseless act of gun violence, including a member of the New York City Police Department, Officer Islam,” Reuters quoted New York Mayor Eric Adams as saying at a press conference on Monday. Speaking on Islam, Adams said: “He was saving lives, he was protecting New Yorkers. He loved this city, and everyone we spoke with stated he was a person of faith and a person that believed in God.”
Adams said he met the officer’s family on Monday night. “I told them that he was a hero, and we admire him for putting his life on the line,” the mayor added.
Speaking at a press conference, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Islam put himself in “harm’s way”. “He made the ultimate sacrifice — shot in cold blood,” she added. Stating that Islam was working on a paid security detail at the office building where the shooting took place, she said such details allow “companies to hire officers in uniform to provide extra uniform security”. she said.
The New York City police too released a statement saying that Islam represented “the very best” of their department. “He was protecting New Yorkers from danger when his life was tragically cut short today. We join in prayer during this time of incomprehensible pain. We will forever honour his legacy,” the statement read.
— with inputs from Reuters
