Samir Hashir’s introduction in Law & Order: Organized Crime kicked off a string of intense events for the series, but what was his ultimate fate?

Since its debut in 1990, Law & Order has made a name for itself through fast-moving narratives and a rotating door of interesting supporting characters. However, when Organized Crime entered into the Dick Wolf universe, it definitely shook things up by operating outside the traditional procedural mold. From complicated undercover arcs to task force members that don’t seem to stick around for too long, there has yet to be a dull moment in the series.

In Season 4 of Law & Order: Organized Crime, the character of Detective Samir Bashir (played by Abubakr Ali) was introduced in only the second episode. He quickly became a fan favorite, thanks to his interesting storylines and good heart. But in typical Organized Crime fashion, his story arc took a dark and briefly mysterious turn.

Who Is Samir “Sam” Bashir In Organized Crime?

Detective Samir “Sam” Bashir first appears in Season 4 of Law & Order: Organized Crime. His character introduction to the Organized Crime universe quite literally began with a bang, following a cruel and tragic bombing at a local mosque. As an officer in the Hate Crimes division, Bashir was familiar with these types of cases; however, he did not believe this bombing to be a hate crime, rather that something more calculated was at play. In addition to this, he had a very personal connection to the case, as his pregnant wife, Stacy, was a survivor of the bombing. In response, Bashir stops by the Organized Crime task force headquarters and relays his suspicions about the bombing to Organized Crime’s protagonist, Detective Elliot Stabler, who is always more than ready to go a little rogue.

However, Sgt. Ayanna Bell is not so willing to clash with the Hate Crimes division. After learning that Bashir is a fellow veteran, Stabler secretly defies Bell’s orders and dives into the case. He agrees to meet with Bashir’s informant and soon learns that the informant is Stacy, Bashir’s wife. Meanwhile, Bashir and Stabler continue to investigate the firebombing that killed the Imam. As the case deepens, the task force learns that a smuggling ring was using a charity as a front, forcing Afghani natives to make multiple trips back and forth as smuggling mules. Following a shootout, Bashir and Stabler arrest the bomber, with Bashir being officially welcomed into the squad and promoted to Organized Crime’s newest detective.

Bashir’s first official case as part involves the Pescador family, a wealthy organized crime family that Stabler has ties to, having killed Carlo Pescador, the leader of Los Santos. When Carlos’ former wife decides to turn state’s witness against the whole family, she and her children must immediately enter witness protection. To protect them in the transition period that night, Stabler, Bell, Detective Jet Slootmaekers, and Bashir stand guard over the family in their house. However, the daughter, upset at having to leave her life behind, snitches on her mom to her powerful uncle. The gang attacks and a shootout occurs. Bashir springs into action but runs out of bullets and Bell is shot — but not before Stabler shoots Lucas, one of the children, who was aiming to kill Bell.

This shootout leads to yet another Stabler suspension pending an IAB investigation. Despite being suspended, Stabler continues to investigate the kidnapping of Rita Lasku — a waitress with ties to Season 2’s Kosta Organisation. Bashir and Detective Bobby Reyes accompany Stabler when the latter finds Rita’s dead body, among other victims. Bashir has become a full-fledged member of the squad. Later, during one of Stabler’s psych evaluations, Stacy experiences premature contractions. She calls Bashir before passing out from pain and loss of blood. At the hospital, she is given the all-clear, with a diagnosis of a placenta breach, but Stabler, always a family man, orders Bashir to stand down and spend his time with Stacy and his child right now. Bell backs him up, officially placing Bashir on leave until his child is born.

What Happened To Detective Samir Bashir’s Character

But that’s when things take a turn. Shortly after Bashir is placed on leave, Stacy visits the task force to tell them that Sam is missing. She has a bad feeling that something terrible happened to him, as she hasn’t heard from him in days. Bell places a call to the chief of the Hate Crimes division and an investigation ensues. Meanwhile, Stabler is working undercover yet again, infiltrating an armed and rogue militia made up of veterans. They operate a honey farm as a front, but are really under the thumb of an organized crime boss. Their primary export, then, isn’t honey — it’s drugs.

While Stable works undercover, Bell and Reyes meet with a man Bashir was seen talking to. He confesses that while they were talking, Bashir was kidnapped by two men in a van. The next day, posing as a food blogger couple, Jet and Reyes deliver a coded message to Stabler to meet outside at midnight. When Stabler does, Reyes relays the information about Bashir to Stabler.

The next day, Stabler is recruited by a member of the militia for a nighttime operation. As he rides in the back of the truck, to the destination, Stabler sees the hand of a dead body. Upon opening the bag fully, Sam’s fate is revealed: Bashir has been murdered, and Stabler is unknowingly tasked with disposing of the body.

Though the militia claims not to have killed him themselves nor know anything about the man they are burying, it is clear that their organized crime overlords were Sam’s likeliest murderers. In response, Stabler buries Sam’s body but leaves a marker behind. Later that week, he and an undercover Bell cross paths at a veterans’ support group meeting, and Stabler relays Sam’s death and the location of his body to Bell in code. When the rest of the squad uncovers the body, the horrific task of informing Stacy falls to Bell and Jet.

Law & Order: Organized Crime’s History Of Killing Off Characters

Organized Crime is arguably one of the best Law & Order shows on right now thanks to its layered stories, action-packed episodes, and compelling characters. However, it does have a bit of a history with introducing beloved characters only to kill them off. In Season 3, the writers introduced a criminal with a reluctant heart of gold, Seamus O’Meara. After he and Jet fall in love, he is unceremoniously killed by members of his own crime ring before he can testify against them.

And in the emotional Season 3 finale, Jet loses another love. Detective Jamie Whelan, a member of the Organized Crime task force, sustains a paralyzing injury following an intense shootout. While he recovers and learns of his physical state, he becomes depressed and asks Reyes to pull the plug and kill him. Though Reyes refuses, it is heavily implied that Whelan’s father agrees, and Whelan gets his wish, dying in the hospital.

So when Sam is introduced as another compelling and lovable character, it’s almost as though his fate was sealed from the beginning. One of the many things Organized Crime does well is foster connections to characters, and then rip the audiences’ hearts out by disposing of them. Even villains and complicated antagonists who die, such as Season 1’s Angela Wheatley, leave a mark. It’s one of the reasons the initial reluctance to renew the show for Season 5 was so strongly protested. Although Sam’s time in the series was short-lived, his effects will be felt throughout the squad for a long time.