Tragic Discovery: The Homicide Ruling of a Refugee Found in Buffalo

Wed Apr 01 2026 23:43:54 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Authorities declared the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar, as a homicide following a series of neglectful events after he was left alone by Border Patrol agents.

The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old refugee from Myanmar, has been ruled a homicide by the Erie County Medical Examiner. He was found dead on a Buffalo street five days after Border Patrol agents dropped him off at a closed doughnut shop. The cause of death was complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer, worsened by hypothermia and dehydration. Community leaders are demanding accountability from the agents involved as they call for investigations into their conduct.

The death of a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar who was found on a Buffalo street in February — five days after Border Patrol agents left him at a doughnut shop — has been ruled a homicide, authorities said Wednesday.

The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that Shah Alam’s death was due to complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer, worsened by hypothermia and dehydration. The term 'homicide' indicates that the death resulted from another's action or inaction, but does not imply that a crime occurred.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz expressed condolences to Shah Alam's family and stated, This should not have happened. State officials, including the attorney general’s office and the county district attorney, are currently reviewing the case, with calls for a criminal investigation into the Border Patrol's actions.

Community advocate Murad Awawdeh highlighted that Shah Alam sought safety in the U.S. only to face tragic neglect, demanding accountability for those responsible.

Shah Alam, a member of the Rohingya ethnic minority from Myanmar, had fled to Malaysia before eventually receiving refugee status in the U.S. He suffered from various legal issues and had recently been released from jail when Border Patrol briefly detained him before dropping him off without informing his awaiting family.

Two days after being reported missing, he was found dead near a local sports arena, leaving many questions unanswered about how he ended up there and when he passed away.