Authorities have released bodycam footage depicting the tense moments leading up to a fatal officer-involved shooting in Fairfax, Virginia, in April. The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) described the incident as an “attempted murder” in a press release accompanying the video.
The incident occurred on April 23 when an officer initiated a traffic stop on 36-year-old Jamal Wali for speeding and having an expired safety inspection sticker. According to the initial officer, Wali abruptly slammed on his brakes upon being pulled over.
During the stop, Wali informed the officer that he was armed and questioned the reason for the traffic violation. The situation escalated rapidly as a visibly agitated Wali began shouting, using profanities, and refusing to provide his name or driver’s license and vehicle registration. As the officer attempted to de-escalate the situation, Wali reportedly launched into complaints about his treatment in the United States and stated that he had come to the country after serving as a translator for American forces in Afghanistan. In a heated exchange, Wali yelled profanities at the officer, saying, “I should have served with f—ing Taliban.”
Wali then produced a GoPro-like camera and started recording the traffic stop. This footage was later obtained by the police and included in the bodycam video released to the public on Friday.
Two additional FCPD officers arrived to assist. One positioned themselves on the driver’s side of Wali’s vehicle, and the other on the passenger’s side. Wali subsequently reached for his weapon and fired at the two officers on the driver’s side. FCPD Chief Kevin Davis stated that one bullet passed through the arms of both officers before striking a parked car across the street, shattering its rear window.
Wali was shot and transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. “It’s always regrettable when a life is lost. It is regrettable that Mr. Wali is no longer with us,” Chief Davis said at a news conference announcing the release of the footage. He confirmed that Wali was married with four children, as he had claimed during the interaction with the initial officer. The chief acknowledged the profound impact of this event on Wali’s children, emphasizing the lasting consequences for them.
Chief Davis commended the officer on the passenger’s side, stating that their strategic thinking and decisive actions, including the deployment of deadly force, saved the lives of the two officers on the driver’s side. “There’s no doubt about that,” Davis told reporters.
The FCPD indicated in a press release that Officer Ian Lachapelle, who discharged his weapon, has been placed on restricted duty status while the investigation into the incident continues.
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