Surrey mother killed in Texas mass shooting hailed for ‘heroic actions’ in saving young son

Editor’s note: This article contains details some readers may find distressing. Discretion is advised. 

A 24-year-old mother from Surrey is being hailed as a hero for her actions to save her young son shortly before she was killed during a mass shooting spree in central Texas last week.

The shooting spanned over multiple locations in the communities of San Antonio and Austin on Dec. 5. The incident claimed six lives — including that of Sabrina Rahman.

She and her husband, Ishraq Islam, moved to Austin just over a year ago from B.C. so that Islam could pursue a career in that city as a real estate developer.

Islam says the couple had just bought and moved into a new home with their 18-month-old son, Ibrahim, when the tragedy unfolded.

“We spent one night in the home, just one night before Sabrina was killed,” Islam told CityNews Wednesday.

“She took our son out for a walk [the next day]. As she was returning home, she saw one of my tradesmen, Emmanuel … She saw him getting gunned down in his vehicle while he was having lunch.”

Open Gallery 9 items

Islam says the gunman then began running towards Rahman and their son, who was in a stroller.

Rahman jumped into action, making her way to a neighbour’s house to hide Ibrahim.

“She guided him behind the patio chairs and barricaded him in so he was completely blocked, you couldn’t see him,” Islam described.

“She turned around, the gunman approached and shot her in the head. And she collapsed,” Islam continued.

“My son was just a few feet away, luckily untouched. I do believe if she didn’t hide him and if she didn’t have that quick thinking and mother’s sense, just that instinct to put him away — I wouldn’t have my son either.”

A 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with the shooting spree. He is facing multiple charges.

Islam calls his wife’s actions “mind-blowing,” noting many people wouldn’t have had the wherewithal or courage to make that kind of decision so quickly in the face of danger.

The father says Ibrahim is too young to really understand what has happened but has asked for his mother when seeing photos of her in the last week. Right now, visiting friends and family has helped to keep the boy distracted.

However, it’s more difficult for Islam, but he says he’s taking it day by day — doing what he can to make sure this never happens again to anyone else.

Islam has spent the last week doing interviews with Texas-based media, advocating for Amber Alert-style emergency alerts to go out to residents in the event of a mass shooting. He says if an emergency text message had been sent out, lives — including Rahman’s — may have been saved.

“I feel like I’m in a nightmare,” he said.

“But the reality is nothing’s going to bring back my wife and my son’s mother. It’s a hard time. We’re just trying to get by, day by day right now.”

Islam and Rahman had known each other since they were very young, and got married in 2020. They welcomed Ibrahim to their family in 2022.

Islam describes his wife as selfless, caring, and family-oriented, saying she was focused on making sure everyone around her was happy.

Family members and supporters have started a fundraiser on GoFundMe to support Islam during the healing process.

As he raises his son, Islam says he wants Ibrahim to “never feel left out of anything” and to know how much his mom loved him.

“I’m just going to let him know [his] mom was a hero, she put her life on the line, she would do anything for him. Ever since he was born, she spent every minute with him, so, they’re heavily attached,” he said.

“And I just want him to know, she loved him so much. And she’d do anything for him.”