By Sampurna Majumder
A 30-year-old software engineer from Telangana’s Mahabubnagar district was fatally shot by police in the United States following a viral altercation with his roommate earlier this month.
Mohammad Nizamuddin was working in Santa Clara, California, and was found shot dead during an incident inside his residence. The incident took place on September 3.
Nizamuddin’s family reported that they were informed about Nizamuddin’s death on Thursday, which is over two weeks after the actual incident that took place. “We got information only this morning,” his father, Mohammed Hasnuddin, told PTI.
In a letter to External Affairs Minister S. Jayshankar, Hasnuddin wrote that he came to know about his son’s death that morning by Santa Clara Police and his mortal remains. His father also said that he doesn’t know the actual reason why Nizamuddin was shot.
The family claims that Nizamuddin’s companion told them that a fight with his roommate that started over an air conditioner turned violent and involved knives. In an interview with ANI, one of his relatives said that the police asked the occupants to raise their hands after entering the room. It is heartbreaking that the shooting happened without any proper inquiry.
Hasnuddin has pleaded to facilitate the repatriation of his son’s body to India to the Ministry of External Affairs.
According to the Santa Clara police, on September 3, 2025, officers responded to an emergency call at 6:18am. When they arrived, they found a man named Nizamuddin brandishing a knife.
When the police entered the place, they encountered Nizamuddin, who was threatening to attack with a knife. After officers fired, Nizamuddin was taken to a hospital and declared dead. His roommate is also being treated for injuries after being admitted to the hospital.
Police officer Cory Morgan said that the officer’s actions prevented further harm and saved at least one life. From the reports, it is found that two knives were recovered from the scene.
No thorough report on the use of force or body camera footage has been made public as of yet. Investigations into the incident are still ongoing.