Death Penalty Sought After Deported Illegal Alien Returns to Murder Family Member

Clear Facts

• Bangladeshi national Shahidul Islam, 44, was indicted for first-degree murder in the May 2, 2025, shooting death of his sister-in-law, Monica Islam, in Lake County, Florida
• Islam had been previously deported but illegally re-entered the United States before committing the murder and fleeing to New York City
• Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, citing the severity of the crime and its impact on the victim’s family

A deported illegal alien who unlawfully returned to the United States now faces the death penalty for the brutal murder of a Florida woman. The case highlights ongoing concerns about border security and the deadly consequences of failed immigration enforcement.

Shahidul Islam, 44, a Bangladeshi national, was indicted Wednesday by a Lake County, Florida, grand jury on a premeditated first-degree murder charge. The victim was his sister-in-law, Monica Islam, who was shot in the head on May 2, 2025.

State Attorney Bill Gladson of the Fifth Judicial Circuit detailed the horrific crime. Hours after Monica Islam’s disappearance on May 2, she was discovered on the side of the road with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

Witnesses reported seeing the victim walking toward Shahidul Islam’s car shortly before her death. Investigators uncovered that the suspect made numerous suspicious internet searches on the morning of the killing, according to Gladson.

Forensic evidence painted a damning picture. A search warrant executed on Shahidul Islam’s vehicle revealed bloodstains matching Monica Islam’s DNA. Investigators also found a bullet lodged in the passenger door and a shattered passenger window.

Following the murder, Shahidul Islam rented a car and fled to New York City. He was eventually tracked down through a coordinated effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

After prosecution and sentencing for his unlawful re-entry into the United States, Shahidul Islam was extradited back to Lake County. He is currently being held without bond at the Lake County Detention Facility.

On Wednesday, Gladson’s office announced it would seek the death penalty, citing the severe nature of the crime and its devastating impact on the victim’s family.

“No family should ever have to endure the pain of such a senseless and horrific act of violence as this one,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia wrote in a statement.

“Shahidul Islam illegally entered our country after being deported, committed this heinous crime, and then fled to a sanctuary city,” Ingoglia continued.

Ingoglia emphasized Florida’s commitment to public safety. The state “will continue to stand firm against violent crime, sanctuary cities and illegal immigration,” and “will never apologize for putting the safety of law-abiding families first.”

State Attorney Gladson acknowledged that while “no prosecution can restore the life that was taken,” his office intends to “pursue justice on their behalf and hold this offender accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

The case raises serious questions about immigration enforcement and the dangers posed when deported criminal aliens are able to re-enter the country. It also highlights the controversial role of sanctuary cities in providing safe havens for individuals who have violated immigration law.

The Department of Homeland Security did not provide comment on the case.

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