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The shooting is being investigated by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], which has not released any information about the case.<ref name=wp.year/> The probe is being overseen by the Department of Justice, and there is no indication when the authorities will make a decision.<ref name=wp.year/> Seven months after the shooting, FBI crime scene investigators returned to the intersection with agents using metal detectors to search for additional evidence.<ref name=wtop/> |
The shooting is being investigated by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], which has not released any information about the case.<ref name=wp.year/> The probe is being overseen by the Department of Justice, and there is no indication when the authorities will make a decision.<ref name=wp.year/> Seven months after the shooting, FBI crime scene investigators returned to the intersection with agents using metal detectors to search for additional evidence.<ref name=wtop/> |
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The Ghaisar family has planned protests trying to draw more attention to their son's plight and that few details have been released.<ref name=wp.video/><ref name=nbc/><ref name=fox5/> In August 2018, the Ghaisar family filed a lawsuit for $25 million.<ref name=wp.lawsuit/> |
The Ghaisar family has planned protests trying to draw more attention to their son's plight and that few details have been released.<ref name=wp.video/><ref name=nbc/><ref name=fox5/> In August 2018, the Ghaisar family filed a lawsuit for $25 million.<ref name=wp.lawsuit/> In March 2019 the suit was dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction because it had been filed before the parents were appointed executors of Ghaisar's estate. |
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Signs erected on the spot of the shooting have been taken down multiple times. After a sign that read "One year, zero answers" was removed twice, a larger and sturdier sign was constructed near the stop-sign where Ghaisar had been shot. This sign had permission from the landowner to be erected there and was built with the help of a Virginian state congressman. It was, however, also removed by persons unknown.<ref name=wp.signs/> |
Signs erected on the spot of the shooting have been taken down multiple times. After a sign that read "One year, zero answers" was removed twice, a larger and sturdier sign was constructed near the stop-sign where Ghaisar had been shot. This sign had permission from the landowner to be erected there and was built with the help of a Virginian state congressman. It was, however, also removed by persons unknown.<ref name=wp.signs/> |
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Revision as of 21:13, 3 March 2019
| 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 fatally shot by US Park Police after a vehicular chase that followed a traffic collision along the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Northern Virginia. Ghaisar was unarmed and died ten days later in a hospital. The shooting is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation while federal authorities have not named the Park Police officers involved or released any details from the investigation, even more than fourteen months after the incident.[1] A video of the shooting was released by Fairfax County Police, who had assisted with the chase.[1]
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, driving a Toyota Corolla and with a female passenger in the back seat. The driver and the passenger both reported the incident to 911.[2] According to a report of the accident, Ghaisar pulled away without giving his information to the Uber driver.[2] 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.[2] As Ghaisar drove off, the officer banged on the car with the gun, dropping his weapon.[3] The pursuit continued at 57 miles per hour, in a zone that had a 50-mile-per-hour limit.[2]
Ghaisar stopped a third time in the Fort Hunt area.[4] 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.[2]
Victim
Following the shooting, Bijan Ghaisar was hospitalized for ten days in intensive care. His family was denied complete access to him by the Park Police while he was in the hospital. He died ten hours after he was taken off a respirator on November 27, 2017.[1][2][5]
Ghaisar was born at Inova Fairfax Hospital in 1992 to Iranian immigrants.[6] After graduating from Langley High School and Virginia Commonwealth University, he worked for his father's accounting firm in Tyson's Corner, Virginia. He was single with no children and had no criminal record.[2] He had attended a Buddhist temple and made a Facebook post opposing guns.[6]
Aftermath
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.[3]
The shooting is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has not released any information about the case.[1] The probe is being overseen by the Department of Justice, and there is no indication when the authorities will make a decision.[1] Seven months after the shooting, FBI crime scene investigators returned to the intersection with agents using metal detectors to search for additional evidence.[7]
The Ghaisar family has planned protests trying to draw more attention to their son's plight and that few details have been released.[3][8][9] In August 2018, the Ghaisar family filed a lawsuit for $25 million.[2] In March 2019 the suit was dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction because it had been filed before the parents were appointed executors of Ghaisar's estate.
Signs erected on the spot of the shooting have been taken down multiple times. After a sign that read "One year, zero answers" was removed twice, a larger and sturdier sign was constructed near the stop-sign where Ghaisar had been shot. This sign had permission from the landowner to be erected there and was built with the help of a Virginian state congressman. It was, however, also removed by persons unknown.[10]
Park Police
The Park Police have limited jurisdiction in 5 states, including the Maryland and Virginia counties that surround Washington DC plus the city of Alexandria, Virginia, but have no authority to follow a vehicle outside their jurisdiction unless a felony has been committed.[2][11] According to Park Police policy, lethal force can be used only when there is "imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm" and that “Officers shall not fire at a moving vehicle nor fire from a moving vehicle except when the officer has a reasonable belief that the subject poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to another person.”[3]
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.[2]
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.[2] 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".[2]
Park Police have refused to identify the officers involved in the shooting, who were assigned to administrative duties.[2] Park Police said that the two officers involved were first placed on paid leave and then placed on administrative duty with pay.[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.[9] 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.[12]
Following the release of the video, Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, and Congressman Don Beyer called on the FBI for more transparency. Beyer requested a meeting with FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, who refused.[4] Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke refused requests to release the names of the Park Police involved in the shooting.[13]
See also
- List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States
- List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, November 2017
References
- ^ a b c d e f Tom Jackman (November 17, 2018). "'Shame on you': Family of Bijan Ghaisar marks a year of silence from feds after U.S. Park Police killing". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Family of accountant shot dead by U.S. Park Police officers files $25 million lawsuit". Washington Post. Washington DC. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
{{cite news}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter|authors=(help) - ^ a b c d Tom Jackman (January 24, 2018). "Video shows Park Police fired nine shots into Bijan Ghaisar's Jeep at close range, killing him". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ a b Tom Jackman (July 10, 2018). "As silence continues, family files FOIA requests in Park Police slaying of Bijan Ghaisar". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ^ Jackman, Tom (January 18, 2018). "Park Police shooting victim was rear-ended by another car at start of incident, then fled, report says". Washington Post. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ a b Tom Jackman (January 17, 2018). "Why won't the Park Police explain why it shot and killed a man?r". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ^ Neal Augenstein (June 21, 2018). "7 months later, investigators return to site of Park Police killing". WTOP. Washington DC. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
- ^ "Protesters Seek Answers on Death of Man Shot in Police Chase". Associated Press. Washington DC. May 20, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
{{cite news}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter|authors=(help) - ^ a b "Bijan Ghaisar's family and friends push for answers in US Park Police shooting death". Fox 5. Washington DC. January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ Jackman, Tom (February 7, 2019). "Signs commemorating death of Bijan Ghaisar stolen from shooting site". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ "United States Park Police:Jurisdiction and Authority". National Park Service. US Government. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ Tom Jackman (February 13, 2018). "After Ghaisar killing, Park Police chief backs out of meeting on bill requiring body cams". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
- ^ Editorial Board (July 15, 2018). "Why won't the Park Police explain why it shot and killed a man". Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved July 15, 2018.