SEATTLE, WA – An off-duty security guard in a Seattle suburb has been charged with second-degree murder after prosecutors alleged he fatally shot a 17-year-old six times in the back. The incident occurred as the teenager and his friends attempted to return a toy gun to a sporting goods store.
King County prosecutors charged Aaron Brown Myers, 51, on Monday in connection with the death of Hazrat Ali Rohani outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods Store in Renton, Washington. Myers also faces a second-degree assault charge for allegedly holding another teen at gunpoint during the incident.
Rohani and two friends were heading into the store around 7:30 p.m. on June 5 to return a malfunctioning airsoft gun, according to statements given to police by Rohani’s friends. Myers, who was waiting in his vehicle to pick up his son from a martial arts class, noticed one of the teens carrying what he believed to be a Glock handgun and thought he saw another teen place a firearm in his waistband.
Believing he needed to prevent an armed robbery, Myers told police he did not have time to call 911. Instead, he exited his car and approached the teens with his gun drawn. As he neared, one of the teens moved to the side while the other two raised their hands, with one placing the airsoft gun on the sidewalk and repeatedly telling Myers it was a “BB gun.”
According to the probable cause document filed by Renton police, Myers then pushed one of the boys onto the sidewalk and straddled him. Despite Rohani showing his empty hands, Myers continued to point his firearm at him. As Rohani began to back away, Myers opened fire, hitting him once in the side and six times in the back. Video footage shows Rohani clutching his abdomen and calling out for his mother before collapsing. The other teen ran for cover and called 911.
Rohani died at the scene, and police immediately detained Myers. Myers’ attorney, Michelle Scudder, stated in an email that Myers genuinely believed he was witnessing the start of a violent crime and aimed to prevent harm. “Mr. Myers and his family are devastated by this tragedy and the young man’s death,” Scudder said. “We are confident that the investigation will reveal Mr. Myers’ intent was solely to protect himself and others from serious harm or death.”
Prosecutors, however, argue that Myers failed to take the obvious step of securing the toy gun instead of escalating the situation. King County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Burke noted in a court filing that Myers had previously tried to intervene in what he believed was a crime in March 2022, which turned out to be a false alarm.
Myers is currently held in King County jail on $2 million bail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 24 in Kent, Washington. Burke emphasized the need for a high bail, electronic home detention, and the surrender of all firearms to protect the community from an untrained civilian who believes he has a duty to shoot people who have not harmed anyone.