Police Name Officer Involved in Fatal Herndon Shooting

HERNDON, VA — Fairfax County Police finally named the officer who fatally shot a man in Herndon in January: Master Police Officer Lance Guckenberger, a 16-year veteran of the force who is assigned to the special operations division and has been involved in two other fatal shootings.

Guckenberger shot Mohammad Azim Doudzai to death on Jan. 16 at around 2:40 p.m. as officers responded to a kidnapping and barricade situation in the 13300 block of Covered Wagon lane, according to a report from the Fairfax County Police Department. Doudzai had already shot two people and had another person trapped in his house, which he had set on fire, police say.

Guckenberger's actions "allowed the rescue of the trapped man in the home," the report adds.

"After the actions by this officer, other officers at the scene immediately performed first aid on Mr. Doudzai, while other officers were able to rescue the trapped victim from the burning home," the report states. "Personnel from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department then provided first aid to the rescued victim, took over first aid efforts for Mr. Doudzai, and fought the fire until it was brought under control and extinguished. Mr. Doudzai was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased."

Guckenberger was involved in two other shootings, one in 2005 and one in 2010, and he was cleared in both cases.

Guckenberger requested and was granted a temporary restraining order against the county preventing Police Chief Edwin Roessler from releasing his name last month. After a thorough investigation determining that there was no threat to the officer, all parties involved agreed to allow the officer's name to be released.

Image via FCPD