Shahidul Islam, the Bangladeshi man who entered the U.S. illegally and killed his sister-in-law in Florida, seeks the death penalty

Florida prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Shahidul Islam (right), an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh who re-entered the United States after being deported for killing his sister-in-law Monica Islam.

Shahidul Islam, an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant who was deported from the United States, re-entered and allegedly killed a Florida woman, his sister-in-law, over a property dispute in Bangladesh and then fled to a sanctuary city. Monica Islam was murdered on May 2, 2025.Prosecutors are now seeking the death penalty against Shahidul Islam, the 44-year-old man charged this week with premeditated first-degree murder in the shooting death of Monica.“No family should have to endure the pain of a senseless and horrific act of violence like 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 city of refuge.”Monica Islam was reported missing on May 2. Hours after she was reported missing, she was found lying on the side of the road with a gunshot wound to the head. She was last seen walking from the convenience store where she used to work to Shahidul Islam’s car.After killing Monica, Shahidul rented a car and headed to New York City. He was later tracked down and detained on a federal immigration warrant because he was an illegal immigrant subject to deportation.A search warrant found bloodstains in Shahidul Islam’s car that matched Monica Islam’s DNA, as well as a bullet lodged in the passenger door and broken passenger window. Investigators found that on the day of the murder, Shahidul searched Mount Dara and Eustis for information about the murder and arrest.On May 31 of this year, Shahidul Islam was turned over to Lake County authorities on a charge of first-degree murder.Monica used to live nearby with her daughter. Her husband Rashedul Islam and his brother Shahidul were previously accused of domestic violence against her in 2024. Rashedul traveled to Bangladesh shortly after the domestic violence case and Shahidul was deported, but he re-entered with plans to murder.