Aaron Brown Myers, a 51-year-old from Washington, has been charged with second-degree murder and assault following the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Hazrat Ali Rohani on June 5 in Renton, a suburb of Seattle. Myers mistakenly believed the teenager was planning a robbery.
Incident Details
Myers shot Rohani at least six times in the back, claiming he thought the teen had a Glock, which was actually an airsoft gun. Myers, who identifies as a licensed security guard, was in the parking lot while his son attended a nearby jujitsu class, claiming to be conducting “overwatch” to ensure his son’s safety.
Court records state that Myers confronted three teenagers, suspecting them of planning to rob a Big 5 sporting goods store. Despite the teens explaining that their airsoft guns were not real and were being returned to the store, Myers felt threatened and opened fire. Surveillance footage contradicts Myers’ account, showing the teens were cooperative and not posing a threat.
Previous Incidents
This is not the first time Myers has misperceived a threat. In 2022, he followed and threatened an innocent man, wrongly believing he had a weapon. Following this incident, Myers established his own security guard company, Midnight Sun Operations LLC.
Legal Actions
Myers is being held on $2 million bail, with prosecutors arguing that he poses a significant threat to public safety. They cited his history of escalating situations and his belief in a self-imposed duty to intervene.
Victim’s Last Moments
Surveillance footage reveals that Myers pushed one of the boys to the ground and then shot Rohani when he slightly lowered his hand towards his waistband. Rohani was shot seven times, with at least six shots hitting him in the back. Friends of Rohani said he was trying to return an airsoft gun to the store and called out for his mother before he died.
Myers’ Defense
Myers and his family expressed their devastation over the incident, stating that he believed he was preventing an armed robbery. His attorneys argue that Myers acted out of fear for his life and the safety of others, feeling an immediate duty to intervene.