Unarmed 25-year-old Bijan Ghaisar was killed by Park Police in 2017 after a minor car crash. The officers have never faced charges.
The family of Ghaisar, who was killed by U.S. Park Police in 2017, described the decision as a “betrayal to our family and to justice.”
Federal Judge Dismisses All Charges Against Park Police Officers Who Killed Bijan Ghaisar In Fairfax
The judge dismissed the charges on the basis of a “supremacy clause,” which grants federal officers immunity from state prosecution if their actions on the job are deemed “necessary and proper.”
The change, a reversal from the Trump Administration’s stance in the case, will allow prosecutors to have access to the agents who investigated the Nov. 2017 shooting.
The unarmed motorist was killed more than three years ago, and his family is still pursuing justice.
While the U.S. Park Police is one of the smaller police departments in D.C., it has extensive jurisdiction over the federal parks, monuments, memorials, and roadways throughout the city.
Officers Alejandro Amaya and Lucas Vinyard fatally shot a 25-year-old driver three years ago. Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano pursued criminal charges against them, but now the two are trying to move their case to federal court where they have legal protection.
Thomas Dwight Spriggs, 42, and Jesus Antonio Llanes-Datil, 63, died on the scene at the park near Foggy Bottom.
U.S. Park Police have not yet released the names of the two victims, who many say were experiencing homelessness when they were struck and killed on a park bench.
Howard Solomon III apparently last control of his F182 6 Axis Quadcopter, which the Secret Service located on the Ellipse at 16th St. and Constitution Ave.
