'Hero' mum gunned down in Austin rampage shielded 18-month-old son from bullets

11 December 2023 , 06:46

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Sabrina Rahman, 24, pictured with her husband and young son (Image: Courtesy: Rahman family)

A brave mum was tragically killed in a mass shooting in Austin, Texas, while shielding her young son from bullets.

Sabrina Rahman, 24, was out for a walk with her 18-month-old son when the horrific incident occurred on Tuesday. Her husband, Ishraq Islam, spoke to KVUE about the terrifying ordeal that occurred just 24 hours after they had moved into their new home.

Islam described how Sabrina had already witnessed suspect Shane James, gun down 32-year-old Emmanuel Pop Ba, a handyman who was helping them move into their new home. In terror she then started running with her young son in a stroller, desperate to get the 18-month-old to safety.

Speaking to KVUE, Islam said: "She screamed. She went the opposite way. The gunman followed her, approached her. She threw my baby - she threw the stroller to the side towards the home. She saved his life. The gunman shot her, and he took off. She got hit in the head, she collapsed. She's a hero. She saved my son."

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Sabrina Rahman, 24, has been identified as one of the victims in Tuesdays violence (Sabrina Rahman/Facebook)

Islam said his family has been "cut into a million pieces" by Sabrina's death, but added he plans to stay strong for their child, adding: "We're going to show him how heroic his mom was and [how] she put her life, put everything on the line to save him. And we're going to make sure he has an amazing life."

Rahman's family is hoping to bring her body back to Bangladesh where her parents are. A GoFundMe has been set up in her memory to support her husband and son. Their fundraising page states: "Sabrina's husband, Ishraq Islam, describes her as "the friendliest, kindest person... just a sweet angel." She was not only a loving wife but a devoted mother to their precious baby boy. On that fateful day, Sabrina, with her son in a stroller, witnessed the unimaginable violence that unfolded around her."

"As she returned home from a walk with her baby, Sabrina saw a handyman down the street gunned down in broad daylight, displaying incredible courage and quick thinking. In an effort to protect their son, she reacted swiftly, running to a neighbour's house and hiding her son's stroller behind some chairs. Tragically, she faced the assailant head-on, and her life was taken from her in an act of senseless violence."

A booking provided by the Austin, Texas, Police Department shows suspect Shane James (No credit)

"Sabrina's family is now left grappling with the aftermath of this heartbreaking loss. Ishraq wonders why no one was alerted about the danger, emphasising that a single message might have altered the course of their lives. Despite the immense grief, the family is determined to honour Sabrina's memory by raising their son with the same love and dedication that she poured into every moment of his life."

The man suspected of a deadly shooting spree across two Texas cities was once a soldier, according to jail records. Shane James, 34, who is now in prison on four counts of capital murder, served as an infantry officer in the Army from February 2013 to August 2015, reports suggest.

His LinkedIn page reveals he held a "Secret Security Clearance" from the State Department and worked at various shooting ranges in Texas. The terrifying killings, which happened in Austin and San Antonio, lasted over eight hours. Two officers were also hurt but are expected to get better.

Family members of the victims in South Austin are speaking out after a shooting spree across Austin and San Antonio (Fox7)

Although Austin officials have not officially named James as a suspect, he was taken into the Travis County Jail overnight, jail records show. The gunman then went to South Austin, where he killed a man and woman in their 50s. Later, a male cyclist was shot and injured. Police were called to a possible house burglary, where the suspect shot at an officer, who fired back but did not hit the shooter.

The suspect ran away from the scene, leading to a high-speed police chase that ended with his car crashing and him being arrested. The relationship between the victims and the suspect is currently unknown. The suspect has been charged with capital murder and had a previous warrant for family violence.

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S P Jones