Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit Prosecutor, Bill Gladson, announced on Wednesday (July 8th) that he is seeking the death penalty for an illegal immigrant. Shahidul Islam, a 44-year-old Bangladeshi citizen, was indicted by a Lake County grand jury in Florida on Wednesday for first-degree premeditated murder, stemming from the shooting death of his sister-in-law Monica Islam on May 2, 2025.
According to Gladson, Monica Islam went missing for a few hours on May 2 this year, and her body was found on the side of the road with a gunshot wound to the head. Gladson stated that the last time she was seen, she was heading towards Shahidul Islam’s car, and authorities found numerous “suspicious” internet searches by Shahidul on the day of the murder.
A search warrant revealed blood matching Monica Islam’s DNA inside Shahidul Islam’s car, a bullet embedded in the passenger side door, and a shattered passenger side window.
After the murder, Shahidul Islam rented a car and drove to New York City. He was later apprehended through the combined efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for illegally re-entering the country after being deported. He was extradited back to Lake County and is currently being held without bail at the county detention center.
Gladson’s office announced on Wednesday that given the severity of the crime and its impact on the victim’s family, they will seek the death penalty for Shahidul Islam. He expressed that while no prosecution can bring back a lost life, his office intends to “seek justice on behalf of the victim and hold this criminal accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia also stated in a release, “No family should have to endure the pain brought by such senseless and horrifying acts of violence. Shahidul Islam’s illegal re-entry after deportation, the heinous crime he committed, and then fleeing to a sanctuary city are abhorrent.”
He added that Florida “will continue to vehemently oppose violent crimes, sanctuary cities, and illegal immigration… always prioritizing the safety of law-abiding families without wavering.”