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Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty involving an illegal alien who re-entered the U.S. after being deported and allegedly killed a Florida woman before fleeing to a sanctuary city.
Bangladeshi national Shahidul Islam, 44, was indicted Wednesday by a Lake County, Florida, grand jury on a premeditated first-degree murder charge for the May 2, 2025, shooting death of his sister-in-law, Monica Islam.
Hours after Monica Islam’s disappearance on May 2, she was found with a gunshot wound to the head on the side of the road, according to State Attorney Bill Gladson of the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
She was last seen walking toward Shahidul Islam’s car, and Gladson said authorities discovered he made numerous “suspicious” searches online on the morning of the killing.
Shahidul Islam, 44, was indicted Wednesday by a Florida grand jury. He allegedly re-entered the U.S. after being deported and is accused of killing his sister-in-law. (Lake County Sheriff’s Office Florida/Facebook)
A search warrant uncovered bloodstains matching Monica Islam’s DNA in Shahidul Islam’s car, along with a bullet lodged in the passenger door and a shattered passenger window.
Following the killing, Gladson said Shahidul Islam rented a car and drove to New York City.
He was later tracked down in a joint effort between local, state and federal law enforcement partners.
State Attorney Bill Gladson of the Fifth Judicial Circuit provides an update on the Lake County, Fla., killing during a news conference. (WOFL)
After being prosecuted and sentenced for his unlawful entry into the U.S., Shahidul Islam was extradited back to Lake County. He is currently being held without bond at the Lake County Detention Facility.
Gladson’s office announced on Wednesday it is seeking the death penalty, citing the severe nature of the crime and its 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.”
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Officials said the suspect allegedly fled to New York City, a sanctuary city, following the killing. (iStock)
Ingoglia added Florida “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.”
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Gladson said 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 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.