Man Who Shot Alexandria Cop Faces New Charges

A man previously found not guilty in the shooting of an Alexandria officer is facing new charges in an unrelated incident. Fire marshals in Prince William County arrested and charged Kashif Bashir, 33, of Woodbridge on Friday, Feb. 8 for two fires.

Fire investigators were called to the Winged Elm Circle in Manassas for a suspicious fire on Wednesday, Feb. 6. Investigators found a separate fire in Bristow.

Investigations and evidence at both locations revealed Bashir as the suspect. He is charged with burning or destroying a dwelling, two counts of attempted burning personal property and two counts of possession of firearm by person acquitted by reason of insanity.

Last summer, an Alexandria Circuit Court judge allowed Bashir to be released from a mental health facility under supervision. Bashir had been in the mental hospital since being found not guilty for reason of insanity in the 2013 shooting of Officer Peter Laboy.

Laboy had been responding to a lookout call on Bashir's cab when Bashir shot him. Bashir reportedly harassed workers at an Old Town Alexandria business the previous day and returned.

The officer went to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head. He had to retire due to his injuries and continues to be affected by his brain injury.

Under the conditions of Bashir's release, he is required to take medication, see therapists, not drive and stay within 50 miles of his Woodbridge residence. Laboy previously told WTOP he was concerned about Bashir's release.

After his Prince William arrest, Bashir is being held without bond. A court hearing is set for March 8.

Image via Prince William County