US: Off-duty guard fatally shoots teen mistaking toy gun for real firearm

King County prosecutors in Washington state on Monday (June 10) charged an off-duty security guard with murder for mistaking a toy gun for a real firearm and fatally shooting a teenager outside a store near Seattle, western media outlets reported.

The 51-year-old Aaron Brown Myers is accused of a second-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Hazrat Ali Rohani. The incident occurred outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods Store in Renton, Washington.

According to authorities, the tragic event unfolded around 7:30 pm on June 5 when three teens were heading into the store to return a malfunctioning airsoft gun.

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Myers, who had just finished a shift as a "licensed” and “armed” security guard, was waiting in his vehicle to pick up his son from a nearby martial arts class.

What transpired outside Big 5 Sporting Goods store?

According to reports, Myers told police he observed one of the teens carrying what he thought was a Glock handgun. He also believed that he saw another teen place a firearm into his waistband.

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Fearing an armed robbery was about to occur, Myers chose not to call 911 and instead exited his car with his gun drawn, approaching the teens.

As per court filings, Myers felt he "had a duty to act to stop the individuals from hurting someone innocent, and to protect his son."

As Myers confronted the teens, one moved aside while the other two stopped. One placed the airsoft gun on the sidewalk and also shared repeatedly with Myers it was a “BB gun” and not a real firearm.

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Even after multiple attempts to clarify that it was a toy gun, Myers pushed one of the boys to the ground and held him by the back of his jacket.

King County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Burke noted, “The defendant failed to take the obvious step of securing the toy gun, rather than assaulting the teen who had carried it.”

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Myers’ attorney, in a statement to ABC News, wrote, "On the evening in question Mr. Myers sincerely believed that he was witnessing the beginning of an armed robbery."

Rohani was pronounced dead at the scene and Myers was immediately taken into custody.

Myers’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 24 in Kent, Washington.Myers is also facing a second-degree assault charge for allegedly holding another teen at gunpoint during the confrontation.

(With inputs from agencies)