The death of Nurul Amin Shah, a 56-year-old visually impaired Rohingya refugee who was left by US border patrol agents in a Tim Hortons car park on a cold night, has been ruled a homicide by the Erie County medical examiner's office.
Shah died on 24 February, five days after being dropped off without notifying his family or attorney. The medical examiner determined the cause of death as 'complications of a perforated duodenal ulcer precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration', with the manner of death classified as homicide, defined as resulting from another person's actions, including negligence.
Shah's son, Mohamad Faisal Nurul Amin, expressed shock and devastation. New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is investigating, stated that Shah fled genocide to build a life in the US but was abandoned in his final hours. The Erie County district attorney's office is reviewing the autopsy report.
Shah resettled in Buffalo in December 2024 with his wife and two sons after fleeing persecution in Myanmar. On 15 February, he became disoriented while walking home 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 car park.
