Three weeks after tragedy struck a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper, a new life has entered the world. On Sunday, Jamila Akhter gave birth to her third son, Arham, at Mount Sinai Hospital. Just weeks earlier, her husband, NYPD Detective Didarul Islam, was killed while protecting others during the Park Avenue mass shooting.
At a press conference the next day, New York City Mayor Eric Adams shared the news with a mix of sorrow and hope.
“On a happier note, we learned that Officer Islam’s wife gave birth to a young, beautiful baby boy. I stopped by the hospital yesterday to talk with family members. Mother was in labor. And we’re really excited that she gave birth to a beautiful young child.”
Adams said.
Arham joins his two older brothers, Ahyan, 7, and Azhaan, 5. Together, they will now grow up carrying the legacy of their father, a man remembered not just as a police officer, but as a protector, mentor, and hero.
On July 28, 36-year-old Islam was off duty but working security at 345 Park Avenue when a gunman stormed the building. The skyscraper houses companies like Blackstone and the NFL, and that day it became the scene of chaos and loss. Four people, including Islam, were killed, and a fifth was critically wounded before the shooter, identified as 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura of Las Vegas, turned the gun on himself.
Islam’s funeral was held in the Bronx, where Jamila, surrounded by family, held the folded American flag that had draped her husband’s casket. The NYPD later announced that he had been posthumously promoted to detective, honoring his bravery and sacrifice.
Tributes poured in for Islam, both from city leaders and his community.
“He was doing what he does best … He was saving lives. He was protecting New Yorkers. “He loved this city. Everyone we spoke with stated he was a person of faith, someone who believed in God and lived a godly life. He embodies what this city is all about. He’s a true-blue New Yorker.”
Mayor Adams said.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch also shared her thoughts.
“Together, they will carry forward their father’s legacy of service and courage — a legacy the NYPD will guard and uphold with the same devotion Didar gave to this city. Jamila, Ahyan, Azhaan, and now, Arham will forever be part of the NYPD family.”
For those who knew Islam personally, his loss has been felt even more deeply. Born in Bangladesh, he moved to the U.S. as a child and always dreamed of joining the NYPD. A friend, Marjanul Karim, told The New York Times that Islam first worked as a school security guard before pursuing his passion for law enforcement.
“He wanted to support his family and be in a better position, and he fell in love with law enforcement while working security,”
Karim said.
His family worried about the dangers of the job, but Islam’s response was simple: he wanted to leave behind a legacy his children could be proud of.
Islam’s cousin, Zamilur Rahman, echoed that sentiment.
“He always wanted to be a police officer to serve his community, to serve the people around him, and set a better example for his kids,”
Rahman said.
The Park Avenue shooting also claimed the lives of three others: security guard Aland Etienne, Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, and Julia Hyman of Rudin Management. Each loss added to the city’s grief, but Islam’s death carried a particularly symbolic weight — a father, a husband, and an immigrant who dedicated his life to protecting others, cut down in the line of duty.
Even after the violence, life carried on in the most profound way. With the birth of Arham, Jamila and her sons face an uncertain future, but one deeply tied to the values Islam lived by. His legacy now rests not only in his badge and promotion, but in the lives of three young boys who will grow up knowing their father died a hero.
The story of Detective Didarul Islam reminds us how quickly tragedy can turn into resilience. In a matter of weeks, New York mourned the loss of one of its protectors and celebrated the arrival of a child who carries his name, his blood, and his legacy forward.