Mohammed Nizamuddin was a 30-year-old techie from the Mahabubnagar district of Telangana, India. He had been residing in the United States since 2016 for higher education, initially attending Florida College before earning a Master's degree in Computer Science. He then became a software professional and moved to California after a promotion. At the time of his death, he was working at a tech firm in Santa Clara, California.
On September 3, 2025, Nizamuddin was fatally shot by Santa Clara police in his residence. According to police reports, officers responded to a 911 call about a stabbing incident at his home. Upon arrival, they found Nizamuddin allegedly pinning down his roommate, who had sustained multiple injuries, with a knife. The police stated that they encountered Nizamuddin and were involved in an "Officer Involved Shooting".
Nizamuddin's family has disputed the details surrounding his death and have requested the Indian government to help repatriate his remains. His father, Mohammed Hasnuddin, stated that the family was informed of the incident on September 18, 2025. He has appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to assist in bringing his son's body back to Mahabubnagar. Hasnuddin mentioned that the information he received indicated a scuffle occurred between Nizamuddin and his roommate over a minor issue. However, the exact circumstances remain unclear.
Adding another layer to the story, a relative told ANI that a neighbor called the police after a quarrel with his roommate over an AC escalated into violence involving knives. The relative stated that when police entered, they asked the occupants to show their hands, but Nizamuddin did not comply, leading to the shooting.
The family has also alleged racial discrimination, claiming that Nizamuddin had previously complained about racial harassment, wage fraud, and wrongful termination. They pointed to a LinkedIn post where Nizamuddin stated he was a victim of "racial hatred, racial discrimination, racial harassment, torture, wage-fraud, wrongful termination and obstruction of Justice," further adding, "Enough is enough, white supremacy/racist white American mentality has to end". They are demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to his death.
