OFF-DUTY GUARD CHARGED WITH MURDER: Teen Fatally Shot Returning Toy Gun in Seattle Suburb

Prosecutors have charged an off-duty security guard in a Seattle, Washington, suburb with second-degree murder after he fatally shot a 17-year-old in the back while the teen and his friends attempted to return a toy gun that the guard mistook for a firearm to a sporting goods store.

On Monday, King County prosecutors charged Aaron Brown Myers with the death of Hazrat Ali Rohani outside a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Renton, Washington. Myers, 51, is also facing a second-degree assault allegation after authorities claim he held another juvenile at gunpoint.

According to Rohani’s buddies, he and two other youths went inside the store at about 7:30 p.m. on June 5 to return a defective airsoft gun. They walked in front of Myers, who was sitting in his car, ready to pick up his kid from martial arts class.

Myers told police that he observed one adolescent carrying a Glock handgun and thought he saw another teen place a firearm in his waistband. Thinking he needed to halt an armed robbery, Myers told police he didn’t have time to phone 911, so he jumped out of the car and pointed his gun at the teenagers.

As Myers approached, one of the kids went to the side, while the other two stopped, raised their hands, and one laid the airsoft pistol on the ground, repeatedly informing Myers that it was a “BB gun,” not a handgun.

Renton police filed a probable cause affidavit alleging that Myers shoved one of the boys onto the sidewalk and straddled him. Myers proceeded to point his firearm at Rohani, who placed his hands out in front of him, indicating that they were empty, according to authorities. Rohani began to back away as Myers opened fire, striking the adolescent once on the right side and six times in the back as per nbcwashington

Rohani is shown on video clutching his abdomen while falling to the ground and begging for his mother. The second adolescent rushed for shelter and dialed 911.