A father of two who once worked alongside the U.S. Army in Afghanistan was fatally shot in Houston during a heated argument over a parking spot—and now his grieving family and community are demanding justice as the alleged shooter walks free.
Fatal Argument Turns Deadly in Houston
On the night of April 27, Abdul Rahman Waziri, 31, was shot multiple times outside his apartment in Houston. The incident took place around 9:15 p.m. in the parking lot of his apartment complex.
According to the Houston Police Department (HPD), officers arrived to find Waziri lying next to a white Toyota Camry. He was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses say the incident started when the alleged shooter was seen vandalizing Waziri’s car. An argument followed, but according to attorney Omar Khawaja—who is representing Waziri’s family—the confrontation had ended when the shooter pulled out a gun and fired.
“After the altercation is already over and Mr. Waziri is walking back to his car, the shooter grabs a gun and murders him. He executes him in cold blood,” Khawaja told ABC 13.
Suspect Not Arrested
Shockingly, the man who admitted to shooting Waziri was not arrested at the scene. He voluntarily approached officers, handed over the weapon, and gave a statement claiming self-defense. However, many—including Waziri’s family and legal representatives—are questioning that claim.
“Self-defense is an affirmative defense. You cannot provoke the incident and then raise the claim of self-defense,” Khawaja told reporters.
Despite the seriousness of the shooting, the HPD released the alleged shooter pending further investigation. His identity has not been made public, and he reportedly remained in the same apartment complex for days after the shooting, leaving residents scared and angry.
A Life Cut Short
Waziri’s story is one of courage and hope. According to a GoFundMe page set up by friends and family, he worked with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan for seven years before moving to the United States to build a safer life for his wife and two young children.
“He came here to be safe,” said his brother in an interview with Click 2 Houston. “But here is not safe for nobody.”
Omar Yousafza, a friend of the family, added, “The whole community is thinking, if this is happening to us, then what should we do?”
Community Calls for Justice
Waziri’s family, attorney, and the wider Houston Afghan-American community are now urging police to conduct a full and proper investigation. Many believe that justice has not been served and that the decision to release the alleged shooter sends a dangerous message.
“There has not been a proper investigation to determine who saw what and heard what from the scene,” Khawaja stated.
Community members are asking witnesses to come forward and help build a clearer picture of what really happened that night. They’re also calling for transparency from law enforcement and questioning whether enough is being done to ensure public safety in their neighborhood.