Park Police Officers Sue Interior Department Over Shooting Case

Two U.S. Park Police officers, Lucas Vinyard and Alejandro Amaya, who shot and killed unarmed Bijan Ghaisar in 2017, have filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior seeking a resolution regarding their employment status. The officers have been on paid administrative leave since the incident and claim that an internal investigation into their actions has not been conducted, despite being informed of a potential termination in 2021. The shooting occurred after a slow-speed chase on the George Washington Parkway, during which Ghaisar was shot ten times. The officers were initially indicted on state charges which were later dismissed, with federal prosecutors stating insufficient evidence for federal charges. Ghaisar's family previously settled with the government for $5 million and advocates for legal accountability in officer-involved shootings, highlighting the officers' ongoing paid leave as a concern. The lawsuit underscores the financial and reputational toll on the officers due to the prolonged uncertainty surrounding their employment.