A 15-year-old boy has been apprehended in the slaying of Nasrat Ahmad Yar, a former Afghan interpreter for the U.S. military who was working as a Lyft driver when he was fatally shot in Washington, D.C., police officials announced. D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said the teen was arrested by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, confirming that the suspect is from Northeast D.C.
Yar, 31, was discovered shot in his vehicle on the 400 block of 11th Street Northeast shortly after the clock struck midnight on July 3, 2023. Despite swift medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, according to a report by DC News Now. Yar, a father of four and a husband, had lent his linguistic skills as a translator to the U.S. Army for over a decade before relocating to the United States in 2021.
The police chief addressed the lengthy investigation process, remarking to FOX 5 DC, "This investigation took over eight months of diligence and dedication on the part of our homicide detectives who brought the case to this point." While acknowledging the arrest, Smith also mentioned that crime in the area is down overall, and expressed the department's intentions to sustain that trend.
The ride-share company, Lyft, had earlier extended their condolences and support following the incident. "Our hearts are with Mr. Nasrat’s loved ones as they confront this unspeakable tragedy," a Lyft spokesperson conveyed to Fox News Digital. The spokesperson affirmed that Lyft had reached out to Yar's family to offer assistance, and was cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation.
Details on the motive behind Yar's killing and the specifics of the evidence that led to the teen's arrest have not been disclosed publicly. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the safety of ride-share drivers and the broader implications of youth involvement in violent crimes within urban communities.
