Mayor addresses police shooting of Bangladeshi student

Hundreds rallied Monday in support of the family of a Bangladeshi American student shot and killed by police in Cambridge, MA while in mental distress.

WCVB reports Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui spoke about last week’s shooting death of Sayed Faisal, 20, at Monday night’s city council meeting.

“Tonight, I share your distress, your confusion, your pain at your lowest point,” Siddiqui said. “As city leaders, we have a lot of unfinished work to address and we have to do everything we can to make sure this never happens again.”

According to CBS News, an independent judicial inquest into the shooting has been launched. The District Attorney will review the findings and decide if charges will be filed.

The Bangladesh Association of New England organized the protest.

“We are completely devastated and in disbelief that our son is gone,” the Cambridge residents said. “Prince was the most wonderful, loving, caring, generous, supportive, and deeply family-oriented person. He loved to travel, create art, and play sports with his friends.” 

A police officer shot and killed Faisal on January 4. He is a University of Massachusetts Boston student. Authorities say police responding to a call of a student in distress who was reportedly intent on harming himself. Faisal allegedly approached police with what they called a kukri, a short blade that originated in South Asia.

Officers originally tried to stop him with non-lethal bullets, but when that didn’t work, an officer shot and killed him, the Harvard Crimson reported.

The Bangladesh Association of New England raised $12,000 to pay for the funeral.

“He was the only child of his family. This is not acceptable,” the group wrote. “We need to bring justice for this young brother.”