Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Police Department has released a timeline of events spanning Feb. 15, 2025-to-Feb. 25, 2026, detailing the days and circumstances leading up to the death of 56-year-old Nurul Amin Shah Alam.
SATURDAY, FEB. 15, 2025:
Police received a 9-1-1 call at 10:25 a.m. from a woman on Tonawanda Street saying Shah Alam, a Burmese refugee, was in her backyard. Shah Alam caused $200 in damage to a shed door and allowed the homeowner's dog to escape through an open gate.
Officers arrived at the home to find Shah Alam holding "two long black poles." Officers engaged in a struggle with Shah Alam, who bit one of the officers on the left forearm, breaking the skin through the officer's uniform.
Shah Alam bit a second officer, also breaking the skin. One officer was also scratched on the face and suffered cuts to both of their hands, along with swelling of their left hand, and various other injuries to their forehead, jaw and left leg.
Officers claimed Shah Alam smelled of alcohol. Shah Alam was taken to Erie County Medical Center by ambulance. The injured officers were also taken to ECMC.
Shah Alam was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, second-degree menacing with a weapon, criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use, and individual counts of third-degree criminal trespass, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and second-degree obstruct governmental administration.
THURSDAY, FEB. 19, 2026:
5:25 p.m.
Shah Alam is released from the Erie County Holding Center by deputies.
SUNDAY, FEB. 22, 2026:
2:33 p.m.
A missing person report is filed on behalf of Shah Alam by attorney Benjamin Macaluso with the Legal Aid Bureau. Shah Alam was a client of Macaluso.
Macaluso reports to officers that Shah Alam had been held at Erie County Holding Center after being arrested, and was released to federal authorities. Shah Alam had no ID when he was released.
Macaluso told police he could not confirm Shah Alam's location despite contacting federal authorities. A Missing Person Report was filed after Macaluso shared this information.
MONDAY, FEB. 23, 2026:
12:29 p.m.
A Buffalo Police detective begins investigating the Missing Person Report. The detective handling the investigation received information that led them to believe Shah Alam was still in the custody of federal authorities.
The Buffalo Police Department closed the case after receiving this information.
The Department notes that closing a case in its local case management system "is an administrative action reflecting that the individual’s whereabouts were believed to be known." State and national law enforcement databases still considered Shah Alam missing, however. "This ensures that any law enforcement agency encountering the individual would receive a notification that he had previously been reported missing," the Department says.
The detective on the case then contacted Macaluso, Shah Alam's attorney, leaving a voicemail that said Shah Alam was believed to be in custody and that the Department's internal case status would be updated accordingly.
4:05 p.m.
The detective handling the case learns Shah Alam is in fact not in custody of federal authorities and the information he received was inaccurate. The case is immediately reopened.
TUESDAY, FEB. 24, 2026:
7:45 a.m.
Assigned detective posts a Be On the Look Out (BOLO) notice on social media.
12 a.m.-12 p.m.
Police identify a prior address for Shah Alam and D District officers try to make contact. A neighbor told officers the family had not lived there for about a year and gave contact information for Shah Alam's son.
Police reach Shah Alam's son, who says he last had contact with his father Feb. 19, 2026 at the Erie County Holding Center. The son indicated that his father had been released to federal authorities. Detectives used this information to determine that Shah Alam was driven to Tim Hortons at 2207 Niagara Street.
Detectives then checked local hospitals and shelters, and canvassed the surrounding neighborhood, distributing BOLO fliers and speaking with employees at nearby stores and markets, including at the Tim Horton's where Shah Alam was dropped off. The BOLO is forwarded to NFTA Transit Police, who were already aware of it.
8:29 p.m.
Buffalo Police receive a call about a dead body, described as wearing a dark parka and khakis, with discolored hands.
The caller told police she saw the man moving at around 5:30 p.m.. He was no longer moving three hours later when she placed the call.
Buffalo Fire Department personnel arrived at the scene, 56 Perry Street in Buffalo, and tried CPR. Buffalo Police administered Narcan. AMR responded and pronounced Shah Alam dead.
Buffalo Police Department cameras in the area had been offline since Feb. 19, 2026, due to prior criminal mischief to infrastructure that supports the camera network.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2026:
10 a.m.:
Erie County Medical Examiner's Office confirms Shah Alam's identity via X-ray. The family is notified around 10:10 a.m.
A final ruling on the cause of death will be released by the Medical Examiner's Office.
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