Afghan Refugee and U.S. Ally Fatally Shot Over Parking Dispute in Houston, Family and Veterans Demand Justice
- Victor Nwoko
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
A Houston man who shot and killed Afghan refugee Abdul Rahman Waziri after a parking dispute is facing mounting public pressure to be arrested, as the victim’s grieving family and former U.S. Special Forces teammates demand accountability.
Surveillance footage from the April 27 incident reportedly shows the armed man — who has not been publicly identified or charged — aggressively rushing toward Waziri moments before pulling a gun and fatally shooting him at close range. The shooter then calmly walked away from the scene, according to the victim’s brother, Abdullah Khan.
Waziri, 31, a husband and father of two, had parked his white Toyota Camry near the mailboxes of his west Houston apartment complex when the altercation erupted. Khan said the suspect became enraged after pulling up behind Waziri’s car, angry that the vehicle was briefly stopped.
The shooter, described as a man with dreadlocks, allegedly vandalized Waziri’s car before the confrontation escalated. Family attorney Omar Khawaja stated the gunman can be seen on camera running toward Waziri, though the actual shooting is obscured by a nearby carport. Witnesses later reported hearing multiple gunshots.
The Houston Police Department confirmed the suspect admitted to the shooting at the scene, claiming self-defense. Officers recovered the firearm and briefly handcuffed the man but ultimately released him after the Harris County District Attorney’s Office declined to press charges pending further investigation.
A spokesperson for the DA’s office said it is still awaiting additional evidence from investigators before making a charging decision. It remains unclear whether the video has been formally reviewed by prosecutors.
Khan, who encountered the suspect again the following day while cleaning his brother’s blood from the pavement, expressed outrage over the lack of immediate legal action.
“I will not stay silent. I want this guy to be behind bars,” Khan said. “We came here to be safe, but here is also ridiculous. Someone could come and kill you just for not moving your car.”
Waziri had escaped the Taliban and relocated to the U.S. on a special visa for his service alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan. He worked as a combat interpreter for the U.S. Army and was well respected by the soldiers he served with.
Retired Green Berets who fought alongside Waziri expressed deep sorrow and anger over his death. Ben Hoffman, a former Special Forces soldier, called Waziri “a lion” and “a hero.”
“Abdul Rahman was literally willing to lay down his life for us — for Americans,” Hoffman said.
Chris Wells, another retired Green Beret who helped secure Waziri’s visa, said the fact that he was gunned down in the U.S. over a parking disagreement was “completely disheartening.”
After the shooting, the suspect was evicted from the apartment complex, according to the family. Waziri was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
His family continues to demand justice and accountability as they mourn the loss of a man who risked everything for a new life in America.
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