Family, Friends Of Bijan Ghaisar Mark Six Months Since Shooting

WASHINGTON, DC—It's been six months since the fatal shooting of a McLean man by Park Police, but his family and friends aren't letting up in their demands for answers.

Protesters gathered outside the Department of Justice Saturday afternoon to demand transparency in the FBI investigation into the police-involved shooting of Bijan Ghaisar, a 25-year-old McLean accountant. This was the third protest the family has organized, with others taking place outside the Department of Interior in January and on the National Mall in December. The family is also pushing for legislation to require body cameras on federal officers and marked police vehicles.

The FBI and Park Police have not released the names of the two officers that shot Ghaisar and provided little explanation for why he was shot. In April, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray declined to meet with Rep. Don Beyer to discuss the investigation. In March, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington blocked the release of the 911 call that led to the pursuit and fatal shooting of Ghaisar. Fairfax County Police released in-car footage of the shooting in January.

Ghaisar was shot and killed Nov. 17 after a pursuit down the George Washington Memorial Parkway into Fort Hunt. He had fled the scene of a hit-and-run in Alexandria, where his car was rear-ended in a left turn lane. Fairfax County Police in-car video shows Ghiasar stopped several times while being pursued, and two officers approach Ghaisar's car with weapons drawn before Ghaisar drives away. During the final stop at Alexandria Avenue and Fort Hunt Road, the two officers fired nine shots as Ghaisar attempts to drive away.

Ghaisar's family said he was shot multiple times in the head. He died 10 days after the shooting from injuries relating to gunshots to the head. His family said he was unarmed. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Image courtesy Ghaisar family