Mohammed Nizamuddin from Telangana was shot by police in Santa Clara, California, US, after allegedly stabbing his roommate earlier this month.
The 30-year-old software professional from Mahabubnagar in Telangana, had built a career in California’s technology sector after moving to the United States in 2016.
He pursued a Master’s degree in Computer Science at a Florida university before securing employment in Santa Clara, where he was reportedly promoted shortly before his death. Relatives described him as a quiet, religious and hardworking man who dreamed of building a stable future abroad.
Santa Clara shooting
On 3 September 2025, police in Santa Clara responded to a 911 call about a stabbing inside the residence where Nizamuddin lived. Officers claim they found him armed with a knife and pinning down his injured roommate, leading to what they described as an “officer-involved shooting.” Nizamuddin was rushed to a hospital but pronounced dead shortly after. His roommate survived the incident and is recovering in hospital.
The Santa Clara Police Department and the county’s District Attorney’s Office are conducting a joint inquiry, but the investigation remains “active and open.”
Family challenges police narrative
Back home in Telangana, Nizamuddin’s family allege it was he who dialled 911 seeking help before being fatally shot. They accuse authorities of racial discrimination and have demanded a transparent probe into the events that unfolded that night. His relatives have also appealed to India’s Ministry of External Affairs to assist in repatriating his body, which remains in California.
Allegations of harassment and discrimination
In recent years, Nizamuddin had raised troubling concerns on social media. In a LinkedIn post, he wrote, “I have been a victim of racial hatred, racial discrimination, racial harassment, torture, wage fraud, wrongful termination and obstruction of justice.” He went on to declare: “Enough is enough, white supremacy/racist white American mentality has to end.”
The same post referred to food poisoning, eviction, and what he described as surveillance by a “purported detective.” His family now cites these statements as evidence that he faced sustained harassment in the US, adding weight to their calls for a thorough investigation.
Community leaders in Hyderabad have called on New Delhi to pursue the matter with Washington, arguing that the circumstances of his death demand accountability.