NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Santa Clara, CA, September 20, 2025: Mohammed Nizamuddin, a 30-year-old software engineer, was shot dead by police in Santa Clara, California, earlier this month after an alleged scuffle with his roommate. The incident has sparked concern after his final LinkedIn post surfaced, in which he wrote about facing racial discrimination and wrongful termination in the United States.
According to the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD), officers were dispatched to a home on Eisenhower Drive after receiving reports of a fight involving a knife. Chief Corey Morgan told reporters that when the responding officer arrived, the front door was locked but sounds of a struggle could be heard inside. After identifying himself, the officer forced entry and found one man on top of another, holding a knife.
Police said the officer gave multiple verbal commands but fired four rounds when he saw the knife move toward the pinned victim. Nizamuddin was struck by all four bullets and later died at a hospital. His roommate survived with stab wounds to his hands, chest, lung, and abdomen. Investigators said the injuries came from two separate knives, one of which had broken during the struggle.
Nizamuddin, originally from Mahabubnagar district in Telangana, India moved to the US in 2016 for higher studies in computer science. He later worked with EPAM Systems on a Google project until 2024. In his last LinkedIn post, shared days before his death, he alleged that Google had “wrongfully terminated” him and accused his employers of racial discrimination, wage fraud, and harassment. He also claimed his food had been poisoned and that he faced eviction for “fighting against unjust.”
His family in India has rejected the police version of events, alleging that he was a victim of racial bias and workplace harassment. “He repeatedly told us about the discrimination he faced. We want a full investigation into what really happened,” a family member told reporters.
Police have said they are reviewing the circumstances of the shooting, including the authenticity of the LinkedIn post. Investigators are also examining whether Nizamuddin’s claims point to a wider pattern of distress before the incident.
Indian officials in San Francisco have been approached by the family for assistance in repatriating his body and pressing for an impartial inquiry.
The case has stirred debate in both India and the US, highlighting issues of workplace discrimination, mental health pressures in the tech industry, and questions over police use of force. While authorities maintain that the officer acted to prevent further harm, Nizamuddin’s family insists his death cannot be separated from the grievances he aired in his final days.
