A routine traffic stop in Fairfax County, Virginia, turned deadly on April 23, 2025, when Jamal Ahmad Wali, a 36-year-old former Afghan interpreter for U.S. forces, was killed by police after shooting two officers. The incident, captured on body-camera footage, underscored the mental health and financial struggles faced by some Afghan refugees.The confrontation began when an officer stopped Mr. Wali’s Toyota Corolla for speeding and an expired inspection sticker. Mr. Wali, a father of four who resettled in the U.S. in 2014, immediately declared he was armed, his frustration evident. “I can’t get a job, I can’t get on disability,” he shouted, cursing a “broken system.” As tensions escalated, he fired at two officers, wounding them in the arm. Officer Ian LaChapelle returned fire, killing Mr. Wali.

Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis called the shooting an “attempted murder,” praising Officer LaChapelle for his response. The injured officers, both veterans, recovered from non-life-threatening wounds.

Mr. Wali’s despair reflected broader challenges for Afghan refugees. Community sources noted his mental health had deteriorated after losing family members to Taliban violence and struggling financially in the U.S. The incident has renewed calls for better support for those who aided U.S. forces abroad.

.

.