Man accused of fatal shooting of teen outside Renton BIG 5 removed from Newcastle safety board

NEWCASTLE, Wash. — The man accused in the shooting death of a teenager outside BIG 5 in Renton earlier this month was a member of Newcastle's recently created public safety ad hoc committee.

The creation of the committee was announced on the city's website on June 4. On June 5, Aaron Brown Myers allegedly shot and killed 17-year-old Hazrat Ali Rouhani.

Myers has since been removed from the committee.

Myers was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree assault on June 10.

“It is with deep regret and sadness that the City of Newcastle learned of the fatal shooting of Hazrat Ali Rouhani on June 5, 2024,” a city statement said. “The outcome of this incident has undoubtedly caused unimaginable loss, harm and distress to those involved, as well as the community at large.

“We express our deepest condolences to all those affected. The City of Newcastle is dedicated to the fundamental principles of public safety and community well-being.

Hazrat Ali Rouhani and two other teenagers were entering the Renton store when there was an altercation with Myers.

Myers told police he had just finished work as a “licensed” and “armed” security guard before heading to the parking lot to pick up his son from a martial arts class. Myers told police he saw many crimes happening in the parking lots and was conducting “surveillance” there to ensure his son's safety.

In charging documents, prosecutors say Myers is not a member of law enforcement and has “not been trained in how to safely prevent crime.”

According to court documents from the suspect's first appearance, the suspect claimed he saw the teens enter the store with what he believed to be a gun and thought they were going to commit an “armed robbery.”

Rather than call 911 or wait for evidence, Myers “claimed he had a 'duty to intervene,' and he did so,” prosecutors write.

Investigators said the footage they viewed contradicted Myers' statements during his police interview.

Myers told police he approached the teens with his gun lowered, telling them to put down their guns and put their hands up. Security camera footage showed Myers confronting the teens with his gun pointed at them, according to court documents. The teens were seen throwing what turned out to be an airsoft gun to the ground.

Myers said he restrained one teen and saw another put his hand on the handle of the gun once and then a second time. At this point, Myers told police he thought the teen was going to shoot. Police said footage showed the teen briefly lowering his hand to his waist. Throughout the interaction, the teen's hands were empty, police said.

Myers fired at least seven shots, hitting the boy once in the side and at least six times in the back.

The other teens in the group told police they were at the sporting goods store to exchange the airsoft gun because there was a functional problem with it. According to the teens, they told the suspect “multiple times” that the gun was not real.

Prosecutors contend Myers attacked the teens and “at every stage of the interaction, he chose to escalate the violence” leading up to the fatal shooting.

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