Thousands of police officers from across the New York metropolitan area and beyond gathered at the Parkchester Jame Masjid on Virginia Avenue on Thursday, July 31, to pay their respects and say goodbye to slain Police Officer Didarul Islam, 36, a Bangladeshi American immigrant, father of two, with another baby on the way, who was promoted to detective first grade by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch during the service.

 

As reported, police said Islam was one of four people killed by gunman, Shane Tamura, 27, from Las Vegas who carried out the killings using an assault rifle which he carried inside 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan on Monday, July 28, and who reportedly had mental health issues. Police said Tamura later turned the gun on himself and also died. Islam’s body had been transferred  from Midtown to Parkchester on Tuesday, July 29, as reported, as New Yorkers reacted to the shocking events and Gov. Kathy Hochul and others called again for a nationwide ban on assault rifles.

 

On Thursday, members of the Bangladeshi community from Parkchester, Norwood, and elsewhere joined thousands of other residents as police officers flooded the surrounding streets of Islam’s local mosque, and several NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) trucks blocked nearby intersections. Tisch had previously served as DSNY Commissioner.

 

In addition to Tisch, elected officials in attendance included Hochul, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), who represents parts of the West Bronx and northern Manhattan, and Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15), who represents a large section of The Bronx stretching from the northwest to the south.

 

Also seen were Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and City Councilman Dr. Yousef Salaam (C.D 9) who represents parts of Harlem and is one of the Exonerated Five having spent between several years behind bars for a crime he did not commit.

 

Addressing the congregation, Hochul said in part, “Today our hearts are broken. The dam is searing.” Referring to Islam’s relatives, she said, “They’re a family that expected to see their beloved son, husband, father for many more dinners, birthdays and life celebrations, but because of a madman who traveled a thousand miles with such evil in his heart to come and destroy all that is good about New York City.”

For his part, the mayor, a former police officer, said in part, “This murder and the murder of others who were in the building, it cut me to my core. I spent my entire life defending and fighting for innocent people of this city, and each death I take personal because as a mayor, I am responsible for the safety of New Yorkers.”

 

For her part, Tisch said of Islam, “He stepped into a new land and chose to become part of its promise to believe in its dream, and he did believe in the American dream, not as something handed down, but as something built with your own hands.”

 

She continued, “Didarul Islam came to this country as an immigrant with no guarantees, only the hope that hard work, that humility, that purpose might lead him somewhere meaningful and it did. He earned the respect of his peers. He believed in this department. With only four years on the job, he did the work of a cop with twice that time, and in a command where the work never slowed.”

 

The commissioner said in addition to his work assignment in Midtown Manhattan on the day he was killed, Islam had been on duty the previous day at the Bronx Dominican Day Parade, a day which proved very challenging for the NYPD due to several shootings reported after the parade. Such was the number of violent incidents on the day, when contacted by Norwood News on Monday, the NYPD press office said they had to be provided with a specific time and location before they could share details of each incident.

At times sounding almost defiant on Islam’s behalf in the wake of Monday’s tragedy, Tisch added, “But no matter what this job threw at him, you could count on Didar to get it done, and to get it done right, and though his journey was cut too short, the way he lived his job, with steadiness, with heart, with conviction, it reflected everything this title represents. So, today, it is my honor and my great privilege to promote Police Officer Didarul Islam to Detective First Grade.”

 

The congregation applauded as NYPD personnel rose to their feet. Tisch was later seen embracing one of Islam’s mourning family members. Islam’s brother-in-law, Police Officer Kamrul Hasan, who called Islam his “protector” and “best friend,” shared some memories to demonstrate their solidarity and Islam’s strength of character. “Anything, everything anybody needed, anything, they come to us,” he said. “He was helping everybody.” Hasan concluded, “On behalf of our whole family, I would like to thank everybody for coming here and staying with us and being here for us.”

 

Meanwhile, outside the mosque, a dog was seen attacking a bystander as reported by News12, and as seen in this Instagram video by ruthless_void before it was restrained by some police officers. When contacted, the NYPD said the dog was not an NYPD canine.

 

They said that at around 2 p.m., a 24-year-old male sustained minor injuries in the vicinity of White Plains Road and McGraw Avenue and was transported to NYC Health and Hospitals/Jacobi in stable condition. The NYPD referred us to Suffolk County Police Department for further questions. We’ve reached out to Suffolk County PD and will share any feedback we receive.

 

In addition to public statements already made by a number of elected officials including the mayor and governor, other elected officials had also shared their reaction to the tragedy. Clark lamented what she called “yet another act of senseless gun violence with a high-powered weapon brought to the city by an allegedly mentally disturbed man.”

 

The district attorney added in part of Islam, “My heart goes out to his pregnant wife, sons, the members of the NYPD, and the families of all the victims. This incident is a reason I urge and advocate for mental health services in our city!”

 

On Tuesday, Gibson had offered her condolences and paid tribute to Islam, writing, “On behalf of our Borough, we extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the four victims of yesterday’s horrific shooting in Midtown, including one of our own, decorated Police Officer Didarul Islam of the 47th Precinct.”

She continued, “In yet another horrific instance of incessant gun violence plaguing our city and our nation, four innocent lives have been tragically taken from us too soon. We join in collective mourning during this time of immense pain and sorrow. May God grant peace, healing, and strength to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims. Our hearts are with you.”

 

Espaillat said on July 29, “Our hearts grieve for the family of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam. His heroic actions and ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten and may the memories of his life always be cherished by those who knew and loved him. We embrace the family of Officer Islam and the families of each of the victims whose lives were senselessly taken during yesterday’s tragedy.”

 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), who represents Parkchester, among other sections of The Bronx and parts of Queens, had written on the night of the shooting, “Tonight, a horrific shooting in Midtown took the lives of 3 people, including an NYPD officer. My heart goes out to the victims, their families, and everyone impacted. As my office continues to monitor the situation, I want to thank our first responders for their bravery.”

She later wrote, “Officer Didarul Islam was one of four people killed last night. Our Parkchester community is mourning his passing and will remember his courage in the line of duty. My thoughts are with his wife, children, and our entire Bangladeshi American community.”

Observed in the crowd at the funeral were also mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo (Independent), former Democratic New York governor, Curtis Sliwa (Republican Party nominee) and Irene Estrada (Conservative Party nominee). Cuomo had written on Monday, “Horrified by the shooting in Midtown. I’m grateful for the courage of our NYPD and first responders, and my prayers are with the victims and their families.”

 

Gothamist reported that Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (A.D. 36), the Democratic mayoral nominee, was also at the funeral, seated on the floor inside the mosque, as is common practice, at the family’s invitation, while some chairs were brought in for some of the elected officials. Mamdani was reportedly also offered a chair, according to Gothamist, but declined.

 

The following day, he added, “Officer Didarul Islam’s courage was as boundless as his love for this city. He gave his life protecting New Yorkers. A hero, we honor his sacrifice and the quiet bravery of every NYPD officer who stands the watch so we can live free.”

Estrada had earlier said in part that New York City was heartbroken by the killing of four innocent New Yorkers, including “our very own Officer Islam.” She said it was unacceptable and very alarming and called on New Yorkers to come together to protect those who defend us. “Our condolences to all the families and the victims,” she added in part.

 

Sliwa said after the funeral,  “I was beyond honored to stand with Officer Didarul Islam’s brothers and sisters in blue today in Parkchester to honor his life, service, and ultimate sacrifice. Officer Islam gave everything to protect our city with unwavering courage, selflessness, and dedication.”

 

He added, “My deepest condolences go out to his family, loved ones, and the entire NYPD. I will always stand with the men and women in blue. We desperately need more police, and that was the message I heard loud and clear from the officers who attended his funeral.”

 

The governor, while paying tribute to Islam, had also spoken of the need for continued recruitment within the NYPD, as reported. On Tuesday, July 29, she said in part, “The killer used an AR-15–style assault rifle. The same weapon of war used in mass shootings across America. New York has some of the strongest gun laws in the nation. We banned assault weapons. We strengthened our Red Flag Law. We closed dangerous loopholes. But our laws only go so far when an AR-15 can be obtained in a state with weak gun laws and brought into New York to commit mass murder.” 

 

Hochul, who directed that flags on all State government buildings be flown at half-staff from sunrise on July 29 until all four victims are laid to rest, added, “The violence we witnessed at the hands of this individual is sickening, unacceptable and it must stop here. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, and we must confront this violence head on.” 

 

She continued, “My heart is with our neighbors in Manhattan, the victims and their families, as well as the brave men and women of the NYPD. The time to act is now. The American people are tired of thoughts and prayers. They deserve action. Congress must summon the courage to stand up to the gun lobby and finally pass a national assault weapons ban before more innocent lives are stolen.”

Back at the funeral, NYPD pallbearers carried the NYPD flag-draped coffin across Virginia Avenue to White Plains Road and into a waiting white hearse, while thousands of officers lined the street. Family and friends followed the casket, and just as the hearse made its way to White Plains Road, the rain started to fall.

 

“We will never know why,” Tisch had said earlier. “We will never understand but even in our moments of greatest despair, we can take comfort in one thing that we do know, if Jinnah is the word for righteous life well lived, then Didar Islam surely awaits his loved ones in eternal paradise.  May God Bless him, may God Bless his family and may God Bless the New York City Police Department and may Det. First Grade Didarul Islam’s memory be an eternal blessing.”

 

The NYPD later wrote, “Yesterday, we laid Detective First Grade Didarul Islam to rest. A beloved son, husband, and father, he is a hero who gave everything for New York City. We will forever honor his legacy.”

 

For more on this story click here, here, and here.

 

Help is available for anyone dealing with mental health issues. Read our recent health check here. For immediate mental health support in New York City, anyone can contact NYC Well 24/7 by calling 888-NYC-WELL (692-9355), texting “WELL” to 65173, or visiting NYC.gov for online chat. For crisis situations, dialing 988 connects individuals to free, confidential crisis counseling and support. 

 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crimestoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.

 

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referenced the dog which attacked the bystander as an NYPD dog. This has since been corrected.