Mahbubnagar Family Shattered as 31-Year-Old Nizamuddin Shot Dead by US Police, Delay in Intimation Deepens Grief
For the family of 31-year-old Mohammed Nizamuddin, life has come to a standstill since the news arrived that he was shot dead by police in Santa Clara, California, on September 3.
But what has compounded their grief is the fact that the family was informed 15 days later, on September 18, even though American authorities had all their contact details.
A young life has been taken away. What is worse is that it took US authorities 15 days to inform us, despite them having the family details,” said his younger brother, Mohammed Khaja Moinuddin, his voice trembling as he tried to describe the family’s devastation.
Since the news broke, his mother has been inconsolable—completely shutting herself off, unable to comprehend how her son, who had always been kind-hearted and soft-spoken, could have died in a hail of bullets on foreign soil.
His father, Mohammed Hasnuddin, a retired government teacher, is struggling to hold the family together while also battling his own grief.
A Promising Journey Cut Short
Nizamuddin’s journey was one of promise and perseverance. He left India in December 2015 to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science at the Florida Institute of Technology, completing it in 2017.
Earlier, he had done his B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Jayaprakash Narayan College of Engineering, Mahbubnagar.
He had a bright career path, working with EPAM Systems from 2021 to 2024 and even contributing to projects for Google.
But in recent months, life had turned difficult. He resigned from his job after allegedly facing racial discrimination, harassment, wage fraud, and wrongful termination.
At the time of his death, he was searching for a new job while sharing an apartment with two roommates, both US citizens.
According to his family, he had been deeply disturbed in the days leading up to the tragedy. He used to video call us once or twice a week.
He kept telling us he was having problems with his roommates. He even spoke about racial discrimination and aggressive behaviour from them. But we never imagined it was this bad,” recalled his brother, Moinuddin.
Signs of Struggle Before the End
In a social media post just days before the shooting, Nizamuddin had written candidly about his struggles—alleging racial hatred, wage fraud, and wrongful eviction.
From his words, it appeared that he had received an eviction notice and was contesting it, believing the decision was unfair and discriminatory.
His brother now asks a haunting question: No one has told us what exactly happened that day, why the police even got involved. Why would an innocent man who always minded his business and was kind to others be shot like this?”
The lack of clarity has left the family restless. The thought that their son’s body lies cold in a distant morgue while they await answers only deepens their pain.
The Family’s Plea for Closure
The family has now turned to the Government of India for help. Nizamuddin’s father, Hasnuddin, has written to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, urging him to ensure that his son’s mortal remains are brought back home with dignity.
The procedure to bring the body home has been set in motion, but it may take some time,” he said, struggling to remain composed.
For a family that pinned all its hopes on their son’s dreams abroad, this tragedy is beyond comprehension. They speak of him not only as a bright engineer but as a loving son, caring brother, and compassionate human being.
His elder sister, Dr. Romana Firdaous, a medical professional, and his younger brother, Er Moinuddin, a recent B.Tech graduate, are now left with the unbearable weight of grief and unanswered questions.
The Silent Pain of Families Left Behind
Every time an Indian student or professional leaves for the US, UK, or Europe, parents swell with pride but also carry hidden anxieties. They pray for their child’s safety in an alien land. For Nizamuddin’s family, those fears have become a cruel reality.
To lose a son is tragic enough, but to lose him violently, thousands of miles away, and to be told weeks later, it is an agony words can scarcely capture.
The empty cot, the untouched plate of food, the sudden silence in a once lively home—these are the daily reminders of the brutal void left behind.
Mohammed Nizamuddin’s story is not just about a life lost abroad—it is about the fragility of migrant lives, the vulnerability to discrimination, and the pain of families left waiting for answers.
Until his body returns to Mahbubnagar, until his parents can bid a final farewell, the wound will remain raw, and the questions unanswered.
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