An Indian man hailing from Telangana was fatally shot by police in California following a confrontation with his roommate earlier this month, as reported by his family.
Mohammed Nizamuddin, a software engineer residing in California, was killed when the Santa Clara police opened fire on him on September 3. While the precise circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, his family claims that racial bias played a role, according to a report by NDTV.
His father, Mohammed Hasnuddin, stated that he learned of Nizamuddin’s death through a friend of his son.
“This morning, I was informed that he (Nizamuddin) was shot dead by the Santa Clara Police and that his remains are currently at a hospital in Santa Clara, California,” Hasnuddin wrote in a letter addressed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Amjed Ullah Khan, a spokesperson for the Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT), shared an urgent appeal from the family on his X account.
In the meantime, the Santa Clara police reported that a man was shot and killed by officers after allegedly stabbing his roommate at a residence on Eisenhower Drive. Officers arrived at the scene around 6:18 am on September 3 and discovered the suspect armed with a knife. He was transported to the hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead. The victim was also hospitalized and is receiving treatment for his injuries.
Police Chief Cory Morgan indicated that the altercation between Nizamuddin and his roommate intensified, with officials finding the Indian man in possession of a knife upon their arrival at the scene.
“Based on our initial investigation, we believe the officer’s actions prevented further harm and undoubtedly saved at least one life,” Morgan stated.
