Two American girls charged with murder of Pakistani driver
WASHINGTON: Two teenage girls were charged with the murder and carjacking of a Pakistan-origin driver killed last week while working at his job delivering food in the US, in an incident a bystander captured on video.
A 66-year-old Mohammad Anwar died when police said the girls, armed with a taser, sped off in his car as he clung to the driver’s side with the door open and crashed seconds later just outside the ballpark of the Washington Nationals.
On Saturday, a video posted shows the encounter unfolding in a minute and a half, ending with Anwar’s Honda Accord on its side, the girls climbing out and a gravely injured Anwar sprawled and immobile on the sidewalk.
After a severe reaction from people across the world by Sunday, the video had been seen at least 5.5 million times on the social media website Twitter. Police did not recognize the young suspects, one of whom is from the District of Columbia and the other is from neighboring Fort Washington, Maryland.
A GoFundMe post said Anwar, who lived in suburban Springfield, Virginia, and was at his delivery job for Uber Eats when he was killed, as a hard-working Pakistani immigrant who came to the United States to create a better life for him and his family.
The GoFundMe campaign, launched on behalf of his family, had raised more than $500,000 by Sunday afternoon to cover the costs of a funeral and to provide for his survivors.
“Anwar was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend who always provided a smile when you needed one,” the family said. “Words can not describe how our family is feeling currently. Devastation, confusion, shock, anger, heartache, and anguish are just a few that come to mind.”
An Uber representative told local radio station WTOP, “We are devastated by this tragic news and our hearts go out to Mohammad’s family during this difficult time.”
Absolutely heartbreaking.
Our thoughts are with the entire Anwar family during this unimaginable time.
A verified GoFundMe has been created to support the wife & kids he leaves behind: https://t.co/t3jQk5v3uI https://t.co/jCZXwoRILC
— GoFundMe (@gofundme) March 27, 2021
