In a case that has rocked the Renton community near Seattle, Aaron Brown Myers, 51, was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree assault after fatally shooting 17-year-old Hazrat Ali Rohani in the back as he begged for his mother’s help. The incident occurred on June 5, 2024, when Rohani and his friends, all children of Afghan immigrants, were attempting to return an airsoft gun to a sporting goods store.
Rohani’s tragic death took place outside a Big 5 store in broad daylight. According to court documents, Myers, an off-duty security guard, was waiting in the parking lot to pick up his son from a jiu-jitsu class when he encountered the group of teens. Myers approached them with his weapon drawn, seemingly escalating the situation as the teens, holding airsoft guns, pleaded for him to understand that they were not armed with real firearms.
Despite their calm compliance, Myers fired seven shots, striking Rohani once in the abdomen and six times in the back as he fell to the ground, crying out for his mother. Shockingly, Myers continued to fire even as Rohani lay on the ground, defenseless and in pain. The killing, which took place on what would have been Rohani’s 19th birthday, left a community in mourning and sparked outrage across the nation, especially as it was revealed that the teens were simply trying to return a toy gun.
Surveillance footage obtained by police further showed Myers’ escalating violence as he approached the teens, pointing his gun at them in a tense confrontation that ultimately led to tragedy. In interviews, one of the surviving teens confirmed that they had repeatedly told Myers they were holding airsoft guns and tried to de-escalate the situation, but Myers ignored their pleas and acted with deadly force.
The shooting and its aftermath have ignited conversations about gun violence, racial tensions, and the responsibility of off-duty law enforcement and security personnel. Myers’ conviction now closes a chapter of senseless violence that robbed a family of their son and left an entire community questioning the choices that led to such a brutal, unnecessary death.
