Current:Home > InvestInspector general finds no fault in Park Police shooting of Virginia man in 2017-LoTradeCoin
Inspector general finds no fault in Park Police shooting of Virginia man in 2017
View Date:2024-12-23 15:21:50
McLEAN, Va. (AP) — A federal inspector general has exonerated two U.S. Park Police officers who fatally shot a Virginia man after a stop-and-go chase on a highway seven years ago.
A report issued Tuesday by the Department of Interior’s inspector general found that the officers, Lucas Vinyard and Alejandro Amaya, did not violate procedures when they fatally shot Bijan Ghaisar, 25, of McLean, in November 2017 after a chase on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. It also concluded that they were justified in chasing Ghaisar after receiving a report that he fled the scene of an accident in which his sport utility vehicle had been rear-ended.
The report said the shooting was within police policy because the officers reasonably feared that Amaya’s life was in danger when he stood in front of Ghaisar’s stopped vehicle and it began to roll forward.
The only policy violation that did occur, according to the report, was when one of the officers used his gun to strike a window on Ghaisar’s SUV.
Ghaisar’s death and the shooting was the subject of years of legal wrangling, though neither officer was ever convicted of a crime. Ghaisar’s family did receive a $5 million settlement from the government last year in a civil lawsuit alleging wrongful death.
On Wednesday, in a written statement, Ghaisar’s mother, Kelly Ghaisar, disputed the inspector general’s findings.
“These officers should have never pursued Bijan,” she said. “Although they saw Bijan was in distress - probably frightened to death - they did not communicate that with their superior. They pulled Bijan over and drew a weapon, banged on his window, and kicked his tire. They then hunted him and pulled him over and shot him multiple times.”
Federal authorities declined to prosecute the officers after a two-year FBI investigation. At that point, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano filed manslaughter charges against the officers in state court. That set off a tug-of-war between state and federal officials over who had jurisdiction to prosecute the case.
In October 2021, a federal judge tossed out the manslaughter charges brought by Descano’s office. The judge ruled that the officers were entitled to immunity and that their actions were proper under the circumstances.
The Ghaisar family said the officers violated their own policies by chasing Ghaisar, who was unarmed when officers opened fire.
Dashcam video of the shooting shows the pursuit starting on the parkway, then continuing into a residential neighborhood. It shows the car driven by Ghaisar stopping twice during the chase, and officers approaching the car with guns drawn. In both cases, Ghaisar drives off.
At the third and final stop, the officers again approach with guns drawn, and Amaya stands in front of the driver’s door. When the car starts to move, Amaya opens fire. Seconds later, when the car begins moving again, both Amaya and Vinyard fire multiple shots.
veryGood! (26)
Related
- Ben Foster files to divorce Laura Prepon after 6 years, according to reports
- Chace Crawford Confirms He’s Hooked Up With One of His Gossip Girl Co-Stars
- King Charles III portrait vandalized with 'Wallace and Gromit' by animal rights group
- Lionel Richie on the continuing power of We Are the World
- Everard Burke Introduce
- When is the debt ceiling deadline? What happens when the US reaches the limit
- What benefits can help improve employee retention? Ask HR
- Joey Chestnut will not compete at 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
- Chris Evans Shares Thoughts on Starting a Family With Wife Alba Baptista
- United States men's national soccer team friendly vs. Brazil: How to watch, rosters
Ranking
- Indiana man is found guilty of murder in the 2017 killings of 2 teenage girls
- Thefts of charging cables pose yet another obstacle to appeal of electric vehicles
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Flip Side
- African elephants have individual name-like calls for each other, similar to human names, study finds
- Jason Kelce Jokes He Got “Mixed Reviews” From Kylie Kelce Over NSFW Commentary
- Pamela Smart accepts responsibility in husband's 1990 murder for first time
- 12-year-old boy hospitalized after sand hole collapsed on him at Michigan park
- Do you regret that last purchase via social media? You're certainly not alone.
Recommendation
-
Shawn Mendes quest for self-discovery is a quiet triumph: Best songs on 'Shawn' album
-
John McEnroe angers fans with comments about French Open winner Iga Swiatek — and confuses others with goodbye message
-
Judge sets hearing over alleged leak of Nashville school shooter info to conservative outlet
-
Kristin Cavallari says she was 'skin and bones' during 'unhappy' marriage to Jay Cutler
-
'Bizarre:' Naked man arrested after found in crawl space of California woman's home
-
Gas prices are falling along with demand, despite arrival of summer
-
Apple WWDC 2024 keynote: iOS 18, AI and changes to photos among what's coming
-
Chace Crawford Confirms He’s Hooked Up With One of His Gossip Girl Co-Stars