Ahmad Yar, a 28-year-old Afghan man, was fatally shot on March 19, 2019, in Dallas, Texas. Yar, who had served as a combat linguist for U.S. and Afghan Special Forces in Afghanistan, had moved to the United States under the Special Immigrant Visa program in 2014. He was working hard to support his family back in Afghanistan when he was killed.
On the evening of his death, Yar had withdrawn cash from an ATM with the intention of sending money to his ailing mother in Afghanistan.
While sitting in his vehicle outside an apartment complex in the 7000 block of Hemlock Avenue, he was shot three times by an unknown assailant. Passersby found Yar bleeding and called the police, but he later died of his injuries at a local hospital.
The investigation led to the arrest of Franklin Delain Fuller, a 29-year-old man, who was charged with capital murder. Fuller was taken into custody two days after the shooting for an unrelated crime, and during questioning, he admitted to the murder. However, police have not disclosed details about the motive or how Fuller and Yar knew each other.
The case drew significant attention from the local community and the North Texas Afghan community, who held a vigil to honor Yar's memory and his service to U.S. forces. Fuller remains in custody, and the investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover more details about the crime.
Yar's family decided to move his body to Afghanistan so that his parents could see him one last time. A GoFundMe page was set up to help cover the expenses of his funeral and transportation, as well as to provide financial assistance to his family.
The tragic death of Ahmad Yar highlights the challenges faced by immigrants and refugees who have served alongside U.S. forces and the dangers they can encounter even after seeking safety in the United States.
