Friends Of Bijan Ghaisar Call For Justice At March For Our Lives

While Parkland shooting had the spotlight at the March for Our Lives in Washington, DC Saturday, others impacted by gun violence had a platform to share their stories. One of these groups had been friends of Bijan Ghaisar, the 25-year-old McLean accountant fatally shot by U.S. Park Police in November. The family's friends stood along Pennsylvania Avenue holding pictures of Bijan and signs reading "We are your eyes" and "Not one more."

"Gun violence in the U.S. has to come to an end," Nagar, a friend of the Ghaisars, told Patch. "People just can't drop dead for no reason. We want voices that aren't here to be heard."

Family and friends of Ghaisar are pushing for "full disclosure" on the Nov. 17 shooting, as well as legislation requiring body cameras and in-car cameras for federal police officers. Fairfax County Police in-car video captured the shooting and had been released to the public. Park Police do not have in-car video and body cameras, but Police Chief Robert MacLean said he was supportive of adopting a policy in a February meeting with legislators, according to The Washington Post. (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.)

Meanwhile Nagar said the family's attorneys are trying to make public the 911 call leading to U.S. Park Police pursuing and shooting Ghaisar. Last week, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington blocked the request to release the 911 audio, citing the open investigation and information from witnesses in the call. Arlington County declined to release the 911 call its dispatchers took for the hit-and-run Ghaisar was involved in.

Ghaisar fled after being rear-ended in Alexandria and was pursued by Park Police into Fort Hunt, where he was shot nine times. He died 10 days later after suffering gunshot wounds to the head and severe brain damage.

"Bijan was a peace loving individual killed unarmed in his car," said Nagar. "No details of the case have been released."

It's been over four months since the FBI opened the investigation, and there is no timeline for completion. The two officers involved in the shooting have not been identified but are on administrative leave.

Image via Patch editor Emily Leayman