FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. -- The FBI is investigating after a VCU graduate was shot and killed by U.S. Park Police in Fairfax County.
Bijan Ghaisar, 25, died from his injuries Monday night, two weeks after the shooting.
The shooting occurred on November 17, when, according to the FBI, two U.S. Park Police officers were involved in a shooting following a vehicle pursuit.
The 25-year-old was wanted in connection to a hit-and-run in Alexandria, according to police. The chase lasted for several miles until Ghaisar’s Jeep Cherokee crashed and went into a ditch near the intersection of Fort Hunt Road and Alexandria Avenue.
Bijan Ghaisar
The Family says their unarmed son was then shot in the head three times.
“The reason for the murder of our son has yet to be determined, though no reasoning could possibly justify the actions of the one or more Park Police officers involved in this unthinkable act,” said the family.
There is no word why U.S. Park Police deployed their weapons and fired at Ghaisar.
Ghaisar was a first-generation American born citizen of Iranian heritage. He graduated from VCU in 2015. He had been working as an accountant at his family's firm in McLean.
Bijan Ghaisar
“After being shot three times in the head in his car, he was declared with irreversible brain damage,” said family in a statement. “On the evening of Monday, November 27th, our beloved son passed, in the same hospital in which he was born 25 short years ago.”
The FBI, who is now handling the investigation, says their investigation is ongoing.
They ask anyone with information or video related to the initial hit-and-run crash or from the scene of the shooting to contact their tip line at 202-610-8737.
Here is the full statement from the Ghaisar family:
"On Friday, November 17th, our son, Bijan Ghaisar, was shot in the head three times in his car by the United States Park Police in Alexandria, Virginia. The reason for the murder of our son has yet to be determined, though no reasoning could possibly justify the actions of the one or more Park Police officers involved in this unthinkable act.
Bijan, a first-generation, American-born citizen of Iranian heritage, was peaceful and avidly anti-violence. He was unarmed. He presented no threat to anyone.
After being shot three times in the head in his car, he was declared with irreversible brain damage. On the evening of Monday, November 27th, our beloved son passed, in the same hospital in which he was born 25 short years ago.
Bijan was a 2010 graduate of Langley High School in McLean, Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2015 with a B.S. in accounting. He was employed as an accountant.
Bijan was an upstanding citizen in his community. He was loved by all -- a kind and gentle soul.
We understand that the FBI is conducting an investigation into the actions of the Park Police officers involved in the shooting death of Bijan. We trust that the investigation will uncover what happened and permit justice for our son."
