Before immigrating to Houston three years ago, Abdul Waziri fought alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan against the Taliban.
HOUSTON — Family members and military personnel are demanding justice for Abdul Waziri, an Afghan man who was shot and killed in the parking lot of his west Houston apartment complex late last month.
Although police said a man confessed to the shooting, three weeks later, no charges have been filed.
Security video shows the shooting happened on April 27, shortly after the 31-year-old had finished checking his mailbox at his apartment complex on Richmond Avenue. Police said Waziri and another resident were arguing about parking before he was killed.
Former Green Beret Master Sgt. Ben Hoffman, a friend of Waziri, expressed disbelief over the incident.
“It boggles my mind that a man who did so much for us to secure our freedom is going to come to the United States and die in Houston,” said Hoffman. “A lion of a man but at the same time one of the most calm people that I’ve ever met. so peaceful.”
Before immigrating to Houston three years ago, Waziri fought alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan against the Taliban.
The night of the shooting, police said Waziri was returning home to his wife and two daughters. Security footage shows his white Toyota pulling into the gate, followed by another vehicle. Much of the incident is obscured by a carport, but witnesses said Waziri stopped near the front of the complex, turned on his hazard lights and walked to the mailbox.
Witnesses claim the man in a black sedan was angry because Waziri was blocking his parking spot, leading to an argument, according to Houston police. When it was over, Waziri was dead.
“People want the shooter arrested,” said Omar Khawaja, an attorney representing Waziri’s family.
He said he has spoken to eyewitnesses who described the confrontation that ended in gunfire.
Houston police said the man confessed to the shooting. However, after consulting with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, the male was released.
“I don’t think that anyone thought for a second that an arrest wasn’t going to happen,” Khawaja said.
Both the family attorney and Hoffman are perplexed as to why charges have not been filed.
The district attorney’s office told KHOU 11 News, “We are still waiting on additional information from investigators before making a charging decision.”