Officer In Herndon Shooting Won't Face Charges: Police

HERNDON, VA — A police officer who fatally shot a man after a double shooting and barricade situation in Herndon earlier this year won't face any criminal charges for his actions, the Fairfax County Police Department announced in a statement.

Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh informed Police Chief Col. Edwin Roessler on May 19 that he found "no basis for criminal liability on the part of the officer," the statement notes.

Master Police Officer Lance Guckenberger, a 16-year veteran of the force who fought for months to keep himself anonymous until his name was released in early March, shot to death Mohammad Azim Doudzai in the 13300 block of Covered Wagon Lane on Jan. 16. Doudzai allegedly shot two men at that location and then barricaded himself in his home, which eventually caught fire, endangering the life of another person in the house.

"Due to the escalating violent and threatening behavior by Mohammad Azim Doudzai and the urgent safety concerns for the person trapped in the home who was reporting to Dispatchers that he was having trouble breathing, Master Police Officer Lance Guckenberger, a 16-year veteran currently assigned to the Special Operations Division deployed his department issued firearm to stop the active threat created by Mohammad Azim Doudzai and allowed the rescue of the trapped man in the home," the statement reads.

Police will conduct an internal administrative investigation "in accordance with our standard operating procedures," police said.

"Once the administrative investigation is completed, the Chief will make a decision whether to release 9-1-1 audio tapes and Helicopter video related to this incident," the statement adds.

You can find the final report on the shooting here.

Image via FCPD