Mohammad Azim Doudzai, 32

Herndon, Virginia
January 16, 2017

Agencies: Fairfax County Police Department Virginia

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

Fairfax County Police is releasing new information following the hostage situation and shooting that unfolded on Monday in Herndon. Police say the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Azim Doudzai, got into an argument with his girlfriend at the townhouse on Covered Wagon Lane. Police say Doudzai’s two brothers arrived at the house, and the argument escalated.

Police say Doudzai then shot his two brothers, who then drove themselves to the hospital. The third victim, the hostage, lived in the home with Doudzai.

It all started Monday before 3 p.m. after police got a call of a shooting. Authorities arrived and say they heard more gun shots coming from inside the home, and that they had received a 911 call from a man saying he was being held hostage by Doudzai.

Police say Doudzai then lit the house on fire and fired a gun inside the home before eventually coming out the front door, where police say he was armed with a knife. An officer fired a shot at Doudzai, who later died at the hospital.

On Tuesday, ABC7 News spoke with a friend of Doudzai, who did not want to identify herself, “I know he could have shot him in the leg, he could have shot him in the shoulder. Why would you do a kill shot. The kid is 120 pounds.”

But Fairfax County Police say Doudzai was a threat to the public, the hostage, and to officers on scene, and action had to be taken.

The officer who fired the fatal shot is a 16-year veteran of the Fairfax County Police Department. He remains on administrative leave, which is standard.

The fire Doudzai allegedly set turned into a two alarm blaze. The Fairfax County Fire Department got the fire out and continued to work the scene well into Monday evening.

By around 9 p.m., firefighters left and police took over and began a more detailed investigation of the crime scene.