Officers To Not Face Federal Charges In Shooting Of Bijan Ghaisar

MCLEAN, VA — The two U.S. Park Police officers involved in the shooting of 25-year-old McLean accountant Bijan Ghaisar will not face federal charges. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and FBI announced the investigation was closed on Thursday, Oct. 14.

"Based on the information available at this time, the Department cannot prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the two USPP officers committed willful violations of the applicable federal criminal civil rights statute when they shot Mr. Ghaisar," the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia stated in a press release.

Ghaisar was fatally shot during a pursuit on the George Washington Memorial Parkway on Nov. 17, 2017. The pursuit began after he fled from a hit-and-run in which his car was struck in a left-turn lane. Police cruiser video released by Fairfax County Police shows Park Police stopped his car several times during the pursuit. In these encounters, two officers approached Ghaisar's car with weapons drawn before Ghaisar drove away. The last time Ghaisar stopped at Fort Hunt Road and Alexandria Avenue in Fort Hunt, the two officers fired nine shots at him while he tried to drive away.

Ghaisar, who was unarmed, was struck by gunshots in the head several times and suffered severe brain damage, according to his family. He died 10 days after the shooting from injuries relating to the gunshots to the head.

The Ghaisar family released a statement criticizing the decision and plan to continue fighting for accountability in Bijan's death. The officers involved, Alejandro Amaya and Lucas Vinyard, are identified in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in the District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia.

"The Justice Department has given us no answers to why Bijan was killed," reads the family's statement. "Instead, they have broken every promise made to us – from keeping us informed about the investigation to personally sharing the results before broadcasting it to the world to, most importantly, protecting Bijan. Let’s be clear about what happened here: Two people executed an American citizen who they were sworn to protect and serve, and the only reason they’re escaping justice is because they wear badges."

Ghaisar's family and friends will hold a vigil marking two years since the shooting on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. at the Lincoln Memorial.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Names Of Officers Who Shot Bijan Ghaisar Released
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• Family Of Bijan Ghaisar Files $25M Wrongful Death Lawsuit
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