He Risked His Life for Freedom—Then Lost It Over a Parking Spot
Abdul Rahman Waziri, an Afghan refugee and father of two infant daughters who once aided American special forces, was fatally shot in a Texas parking lot following a dispute over a parking space, according to police and family members.
Waziri, who had fled Afghanistan to escape Taliban persecution, was gunned down outside his apartment complex in west Houston around 9:15 p.m. last Sunday. Authorities say a neighbor shot him multiple times during the altercation.
Abdul Rahman Waziri, 31, spent years assisting U.S. special forces in the fight against the Taliban before seeking refuge in the United States.
“He came here seeking safety, and this is what happened to him,” his brother, Abdullah Khan, told Eyewitness 13.
According to Houston police, the suspected gunman admitted to shooting Waziri after an argument over a parking space.
Despite admitting to the shooting, the gunman was released without charges after being questioned by police, authorities said.
Now, Waziri’s grieving family is demanding justice.
“We believe this was a public execution—there’s no other way to describe it,” said Omar Khawaja, the family’s attorney, in an interview with Eyewitness 13.
The deadly encounter began at the Gables at Richmond apartment complex on 3400 Ocean St., where Waziri had stopped to check his mail. According to authorities and local reports, a neighbor became enraged over where Waziri had parked his vehicle.
Witnesses reported seeing the suspect vandalize Waziri’s car before a verbal confrontation escalated into a physical altercation, Khawaja said.
After the fight ended and Waziri began walking back to his car, the neighbor allegedly retrieved a gun and shot him multiple times, killing him on the spot.
“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 said.
Responding officers found Waziri’s body near a white Toyota Camry with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital but could not be saved.
Police are investigating the fatal shooting of an Afghan refugee following a parking dispute at a Houston apartment complex.
The gunman voluntarily turned himself in to police and surrendered his weapon. According to footage obtained by KPRC, officers handcuffed him and placed evidence bags over his hands to preserve forensic material related to the shooting.
“As officers were investigating the shooting, they were approached by a male who stated he was the shooter and explained he and the deceased male were arguing over parking,” police said.
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Abdullah Khan described his brother, Waziri Rahman Khan, as a war hero and insisted that the man who killed him should be behind bars.
The Harris County District Attorney declined to file charges against the shooter, according to Houston police. Reports indicate he was released and has since returned to live at the same apartment complex where the shooting occurred.
“Everyone is terrified—this man killed someone yesterday, and today he’s back among us,” Omer Yousafzai, a leader in Houston’s Afghan community, told Eyewitness News 13.
Waziri was a former member of Afghanistan’s security forces who spent seven years working alongside U.S. troops. A GoFundMe campaign launched in his memory describes his journey to America in search of safety and a better future for his family.
“After serving bravely, Abdul Rahman came to the United States seeking a better and safer life for himself and his family,” the fundraiser states. “Tragically, his life was cut short when he was killed without reason.”
Abdul Rahman Waziri, 31, was fatally shot by an unidentified gunman following a parking dispute.
Waziri’s family, joined by outraged community members, gathered outside a Houston police station on Friday, holding signs and demanding justice.
They called for the shooter’s arrest and a fresh investigation into what they described as the senseless killing of a man they consider a war hero.
“There has not been a proper investigation,” said attorney Omar Khawaja.
As they rallied for justice, community leaders highlighted Waziri’s heroism.
“He was a hero,” said Nisar Momand, a prominent figure in the Afghan-American community, according to KPRC. “He served alongside American Special Forces in Afghanistan for many years, risking his life to protect the freedoms we cherish today.”
Waziri had worked on numerous dangerous operations with U.S. troops before fleeing Afghanistan, his brother explained.
“He was leading critical missions,” Abdullah Khan told KPRC 2 News. “He was the head of the team during those operations.”
Police continue to investigate the shooting.
A request for comment sent to the Harris County District Attorney’s office had not been answered as of Sunday night.
