COMMUNITY ACTION ALERT

[November 28, 2017]

Unarmed Iranian American Shot and Killed By VA Park Police

Alexandria, Virginia - IAAB is deeply saddened by the killing of Bijan Ghaisar, 25, of McLean, Virginia. Bijan was shot by Virginia Park Police officers on November 17th after a short chase into Fairfax County, according to the Washington Post. Bijan died Monday night after suffering from three gunshot wounds to the head and irreversible brain damage, according to a family statement.

“Bijan was an upstanding citizen in his community,” his family wrote. “He was loved by all — a kind and gentle soul.” We mourn the tragic loss of Bijan alongside his local Iranian-American community, many of whom knew Bijan and his family from the local Persian heritage language school. IAAB offers its heartfelt condolences to the Ghaisar family and to Bijan's friends and family who have suffered a tremendous loss.

We strongly condemn the course of action that resulted in Bijan's death. We urge authorities to conduct a thorough investigation in order to shed light on the events that led to Bijan's death -- and to ultimately offer Bijan and his family justice. According to The Washington Post, at least one person witnessed the shooting and two Fairfax County officers captured it on video. The FBI is currently conducting an investigation.

According to the family, Bijan was unarmed: "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.”

IAAB mourns Bijan's loss and offers its support to his community during this difficult time.

Rest in power, Bijan joon.

#WeAreBijan

Below is the entirety of the family's statement made to The Washington Post:

"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.

Bija, 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."