Police Shooting of Roommate Attacker Ruled Justified

Santa Clara DA finds officers acted appropriately to stop stabbing in progress

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up of a broken kitchen knife blade, its sharp edges and metallic texture dramatically illuminated against a stark black background, conceptually representing the violence and danger of the incident.A violent domestic dispute ends in tragedy, exposing the high stakes and split-second decisions police face when responding to such calls.Santa Clara Today

The Santa Clara District Attorney's Office has determined that police officers were justified in fatally shooting Nizamuddin Mohammed, who was allegedly in the act of stabbing his roommate Eric Thompson with a kitchen knife when officers arrived. The report found that the officers had no reasonable alternative to using lethal force to stop Mohammed from killing Thompson.

Why it matters

This case highlights the difficult split-second decisions police officers sometimes face when responding to violent incidents, and the legal standards around when use of lethal force is deemed justified to protect a life. It also sheds light on the potential for escalating tensions between roommates that can tragically turn deadly.

The details

According to the district attorney's report, officers from the Santa Clara Police Department responded to a 911 call about a man attacking his roommate. When they arrived, they found Mohammed pinning Thompson to the floor and holding a knife to his throat. One officer, Robert Allsup, ordered Mohammed to drop the knife, but he instead made a sudden movement toward Thompson's throat, prompting Allsup to fire four shots, fatally wounding Mohammed. The report concluded that Allsup's actions saved Thompson's life, as Mohammed was 'intent on killing' him.

  • The incident occurred around 6 a.m. on September 3, 2026.
  • Five days prior, on August 29, Thompson had testified against Mohammed at an eviction hearing.
  • In late 2024, Mohammed had threatened Thompson with a broom over a dispute about the thermostat temperature.

The players

Nizamuddin Mohammed

A 33-year-old man who was fatally shot by police after allegedly stabbing his roommate, Eric Thompson.

Eric Thompson

The roommate of Nizamuddin Mohammed, who was attacked by Mohammed with a kitchen knife before police arrived and shot Mohammed.

Officer Robert Allsup

The Santa Clara police officer who fired the fatal shots at Nizamuddin Mohammed to stop him from killing his roommate, Eric Thompson.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Nizamuddin Mohammed was intent on killing Mr. Thompson and but for the actions of Officer Allsup would have accomplished his mission.”

— Santa Clara District Attorney's Office

What’s next

The Santa Clara District Attorney's Office has concluded its investigation and determined that no criminal charges will be filed against Officer Allsup for the fatal shooting.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the difficult situations police officers can face when responding to violent confrontations, and the legal standards around when use of lethal force is deemed justified to protect a life. It also underscores the potential for escalating tensions between roommates that can tragically turn deadly.