The death of Nurul Amin Shah, a 56-year-old blind Rohingya refugee from Myanmar who was abandoned by US border patrol agents at a Tim Hortons in Buffalo, has been ruled a homicide by the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office.
Shah died on 24 February, five days after being dropped off in the parking lot on a cold winter night without his family or attorney being notified. The medical examiner stated that the cause of death was complications of a perforated duodenal ulcer precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration, and the manner of death was homicide.
The office clarified that 'homicide' for death certification refers to death resulting from another person's actions, including negligent acts or omissions, and does not imply intent or criminal liability. Shah's son, Mohamad Faisal Nurul Amin, expressed shock and devastation at the ruling.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who opened an investigation in March, said Shah fled genocide to build a life in the US but was abandoned and left to suffer alone. The Erie County District Attorney's Office stated it had requested the autopsy report and would review the findings.
Shah resettled in Buffalo in December 2024 with his wife and two sons. In February 2025, he became disoriented and entered a resident's backyard, leading to his arrest. He was transferred to border patrol custody on 19 February and later left at the Tim Hortons parking lot. The Department of Homeland Security denied any connection to his death, calling the ruling a hoax.
