QUEENS, NY – Borough President Melinda Katz stated the following in response to Wednesday night’s murder of Nazma Khanam:

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Nazma Khanam, who was senselessly murdered on Wednesday while she was walking home on Normal Road in Jamaica Hills while wearing traditional Muslim dress. The aunt of an NYPD officer, Mrs. Khanam was a dedicated schoolteacher in her native Bangladesh and continued to work hard at the Jamaica souvenir shop she operated with her husband. Although the motive behind Mrs. Khanam’s killing remains uncertain, it is comforting to know that detectives from the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force are a part of the investigation. We trust that the NYPD will thoroughly investigate this crime and will bring the killer to justice. Members of the public should view the surveillance video of the man who police say is a person of interest in the case and should contact police at 1-800-577-TIPS if they have any information that could be relevant to the investigation.”