Shooting of Bijan Ghaisar

Killing of Bijan Ghaisar
Bijan Ghaisar, in an undated photo
Date November 17, 2017
Location George Washington Memorial Parkway and Alexandria, Virginia
Filmed by Fairfax Police
Participants US Park Police, Fairfax Police, Bijan Ghaisar
Deaths Bijan Ghaisar

On November 17, 2017, Bijan C. Ghaisar, a 25-year-old American, was killed by US Park Police after a chase that followed a traffic collision along the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Northern Virginia. Ghaisar, who was unarmed, was fatally shot four times in the head and once in the wrist. As of August 2018, more than eight months after the incident, federal authorities have not commented on the killing, released an official statement, or named the officers involved. A video of the shooting was released by Fairfax County Police, who participated in the chase.

The incident

Ghaisar was traveling southbound along the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Alexandria City to his parents' house for dinner. While driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee, he was hit from behind by an Uber driver, who reported the traffic collision to 911.[1] According to a report of the accident, Ghaisar pulled away without giving his information to the Uber driver.[1] A lookout for his vehicle was announced and a Park Police car and Fairfax County Police car followed in pursuit. Ghaisar stopped his vehicle and was approached by a Park Police officer with his gun drawn.[1] As Ghaisar drove off the officer banged on the car with the gun, dropping his weapon.[2] The pursuit continued at 57 miles per hour, in a zone that had a 50 mile per hour limit.[1]

Ghaisar stopped a third time in the Fort Hunt area.[3] Park Police parked a vehicle in front of Ghaisar's Jeep to prevent him from fleeing again. As his vehicle rolled away, Park Police fired nine shots in three different bursts. [1]

In January 2018, Fairfax Police released a five minute video of the chase filmed from one of their vehicles. Fairfax police were involved in the chase but not in the investigation.[2] The FBI is investigating the incident but has provided no information.[1]

Victim

Ghaisar, who lived in Tyson's Corner, was single with no children and no criminal record.[1] He was born at Inova Fairfax Hospital in 1992 to Iranian immigrants[4]. After graduating from Langley High School and Virginia Commonwealth University, he worked for his father's accounting firm. He had attended a Buddhist temple and made a Facebook post opposing guns.[4] Ghaisar died on November 27.[1] He survived for 10 days after the shooting and for 10 hours after he was taken off a respirator.[1]

Park Police

Park Police have no authority to follow a vehicle outside their jurisdiction unless a felony has been committed. [1] According to Park Police policy, lethal force can only be used when there is "imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm".[2]

Park Police have provided almost no information about the incident. According to a lawsuit filed by the family, it was twelve hours following the incident before the family learned that Park Police were involved. Two days after the shooting, Park Police Chief Robert MacLean met with the family. MacLean offered condolences but provided no information about what had happened.[1]

The Ghaisar family was not allowed to touch their son for three days following the incident, when he was guarded by the department’s officers.[1] According to the family, when a doctor arrived to examine Ghaisar for organ donation, the Park Police denied access, declaring the brain-dead man "under arrest" and his body "evidence".[1]

Park Police refused to identify the officers involved in the shooting, who were assigned to administrative duties.[1]

Aftermath

The Ghaisar family has planned protests trying to draw more attention to their son's plight and that few details have been released.[2][5][6]

Seven months after the shooting, FBI crime scene investigators returned to the intersection.[7] Agents used metal detectors to search for additional evidence.[7]

In August 2018, the Ghaisar family filed a lawsuit for $25 million.[1]

Legislative response

In January 2018, DC Congressional representative Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced a bill to require uniformed federal police officers to wear body cameras and have dashboard cameras in marked vehicles. The legislation was directly in response to Ghaisar's death.[6] Park Police Chief Robert MacLean backed out of a scheduled meeting with Holmes Norton to discuss the matter, prompting Holmes Norton to make a statement to "express our astonishment" at his absence.[8]

Following the release of the video, Virginia Congressmen Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, and Don Beyer called on the FBI for more transparency. Beyer requested a meeting with FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, who refused.[3] Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke refused requests to release the names of the Park Police involved in the shooting.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Tom Jackman and Michael Brice-Saddler (3 August 2018). "Family of accountant shot dead by U.S. Park Police officers files $25 million lawsuit". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Tom Jackman (24 January 2018). "Video shows Park Police fired nine shots into Bijan Ghaisar's Jeep at close range, killing him". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 Tom Jackman (10 July 2018). "As silence continues, family files FOIA requests in Park Police slaying of Bijan Ghaisar". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  4. 1 2 Tom Jackman (17 January 2018). "Why won't the Park Police explain why it shot and killed a man?r". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  5. ↑ Associated Press (20 May 2018). "Protesters Seek Answers on Death of Man Shot in Police Chase". Associated Press. Washington DC. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Bijan Ghaisar's family and friends push for answers in US Park Police shooting death". Fox 5. Washington DC. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  7. 1 2 Neal Augenstein (21 June 2018). "7 months later, investigators return to site of Park Police killing". WTOP. Washington DC. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  8. ↑ Tom Jackman (13 February 2018). "After Ghaisar killing, Park Police chief backs out of meeting on bill requiring body cams". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  9. ↑ Editorial Board (15 July 2018). "Why won't the Park Police explain why it shot and killed a man". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

Fairfax County Police Department Video of the US Park Police Shooting of Bijan Ghaisar

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