In Pursuit of Justice: The Tragic Story of Bijan Ghaisar

In Pursuit of Justice: The Tragic Story of Bijan Ghaisar

Bijan was a young man with a promising life ahead of him. Sadly, he died in the moment of tragedy, triggering protests and calls for justice. On November 17, 2017, Ghaisar was involved in a fender bender. Such could have been the fate of the man driving those nine miles along the George Washington Memorial Parkway in northern Virginia. The situation grew quickly out of control, leading to violent confrontations with police that ultimately cost his life. Kelly Ghaisar has spent the last five years fighting for her son to get the justice he deserves. She argues that systemic factors, like racism, led to his wrongful death.

Yet on that fateful Friday evening, Bijan Ghaisar was driving when an Uber driver rear-ended his vehicle. Instead of pulling over immediately after the hit and run, Ghaisar took off. The second Uber driver, alarmed by what had just transpired, called 911 to report that Ghaisar had subsequently driven away from the scene. Less than 20 minutes later, officers Amaya and Vinyard responded to the same call, resulting in a totally justified confrontation.

The situation escalated dramatically. The chilling consequences that resulted when Bijan Ghaisar had a critical incident with the law enforcement officers who saw him as the threat. In a stunning act of brutality, moments later, officers fired 10 shots into Ghaisar’s head at point-blank range. This despicable act could happen even though he was not armed. The whole encounter, including a five-minute car chase, ended in less than ten minutes, leaving the Crutcher family mourning yet another loss.

Kelly Ghaisar has, as you might expect, publicly asserted that racism played a role in the officers’ decision-making during the incident. Her grief is still very much apparent as she recalls her son’s vibrant spirit and the sadly ironic saga of her son’s tragic death.

“Not just a loss. It was an absolute catastrophe. An obliteration,” – Kelly Ghaisar.

She paints a portrait of Bijan, as a beautiful soul, whose life was senselessly taken away too soon. As she continues her fight for justice, Kelly emphasizes the challenges she faced in seeking accountability from a system she views as unjust.

“When you are fighting the federal government and they close ranks, there is nowhere to go,” – Kelly.

For Kelly Ghaisar, the change in her life after the loss of her son has been permanent.

“The person I was before Bijan was killed has completely gone. She is gone,” – Kelly reflects on the profound impact of her son’s death.

His family’s battle lasting just over 7.5 years. They asked for transparency and accountability for what they believed was an egregious use of force by law enforcement. They have fought tooth and nail for justice, and their hard work came to fruition in 2020. Later that year, a Fairfax grand jury indicted Officers Amaya and Vinyard for manslaughter. It has been a long, painful road filled with adversity and anguish.

In a civil suit settled in 2023, Bijan Ghaisar’s family was awarded $5 million in damages. While this extraordinary $3 million settlement delivers substantial financial closure, it does nothing to bring Isaac back to life. It can’t take away the trauma suffered by his family.

“This is my number one goal, my life mission,” – Kelly asserts with determination.

As an advocate, she’s committed to keeping her son’s memory alive. Now, she’s fighting to make sure no one else suffers such a terrible fate.

“I will not stop fighting for Bijan, not while I still live and breathe,” – Kelly vows.

The story of Bijan Ghaisar helps kick off some essential discussions around police accountability. It provides an important glimpse into the way law enforcement engages with people, particularly in communities of color. Public pressure remains focused on these life-and-death matters. Kelly Ghaisar’s passionate advocacy is an important reminder of the human stories that should inform policy and reform efforts.

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