What started as a routine traffic stop in Virginia turned into a terrifying shootout, ending with an Afghan man dead and two police officers injured.
The Fairfax County Police Department recently released an intense bodycam video that captures the entire incident—from the moment officers pulled over the suspect to the chaotic exchange of gunfire.
The man at the center of this tragic encounter was 36-year-old Jamal Wali.
He had a lot to say—and most of it was angry, bitter, and pointed squarely at the United States.
The Traffic Stop That Took a Violent Turn
It was April 23 in Fair Oaks, just outside Washington, D.C., when officers noticed a 1999 silver Toyota Corolla with an expired inspection sticker.
Bodycam footage starts with one of the officers trailing the car.
Without warning, Wali abruptly slammed on the brakes, causing the officer to shout, “Jesus Christ!” as he quickly got out of his cruiser to speak with the driver.
Right from the start, Wali was aggressive. “I have a gun and I’m armed. So why did you pull me over?” he demanded.
The officer calmly explained the reason—his expired inspection sticker—but Wali wasn’t interested in the details. “Yeah, they know! Call Joe Biden or call George Bush!” he snapped, before declaring he didn’t have a driver’s license and telling the officer to “go sit in the f***ing car and leave.”
Anger, Frustration, and a Torrent of Accusations
Wali’s hostility only grew.
He went on a lengthy, profanity-laced tirade about his hardships in the U.S., shouting about how he couldn’t return to Afghanistan, how he had served in the military, and how he felt abandoned by the country that brought him here.
“You are killing fing people,” he yelled. “I have kids and a lot of fing bull**** things.”
“I lost everything,” Wali continued.
“I have nothing. The system is f***ing broke.”
The officer tried to de-escalate, even mentioning his own military background and telling Wali, “Sounds like you’re going through a really rough time.”
But Wali wasn’t having it.
At one point, he even shouted, “I should have served with the f***ing Taliban.”
The Situation Escalates—Then Explodes
Concerned for everyone’s safety, the officer called for backup.
He told dispatch that Wali kept reaching toward his weapon—something clearly shown on the footage taken from inside Wali’s car.
Soon, two more officers arrived.
They cautiously approached, trying to defuse the situation.
One officer leaned in and asked, “Do you wanna give me that?” referring to the gun.
But instead of handing it over, Wali opened fire.
Gunshots rang out in quick succession.
One officer was hit and fell to the ground.
Another scrambled for cover while a third returned fire, hitting Wali multiple times.
Aftermath: Two Officers Injured, Wali Killed
The Fairfax County Police confirmed that Wali shot two officers and that a third officer—identified as Ian Lachapelle, a two-year department veteran—fired back, hitting Wali four times.
Backup units rushed in moments later to assist the wounded officers and attempt to treat Wali.
The officers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Wali, however, was pronounced dead at the scene.
As standard protocol, Officer Lachapelle has been placed on restricted duty while the investigation moves forward.
What Happens Next?
The Fairfax County Police Department is now conducting a full investigation into the shooting.
Bodycam footage has been released in the interest of transparency, but questions remain—about Wali’s mental state, his past military service, and what could’ve been done to prevent this deadly confrontation.
The department says it’s committed to a thorough review, and there will likely be a community response as more details unfold.
For now, the focus remains on the recovery of the two officers and the deeper issues Wali’s final outburst brought to the surface.