Nasrat Ahmad Yar, a devoted father of four who had served as an interpreter alongside U.S. special forces in Afghanistan, met a tragic end as he was fatally shot while working as a Lyft driver early Monday.
Nasrat Ahmad Yar served with US forces in Afghanistan, fled Taliban takeover, shot dead driving Lyft in DC 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ytZKyniXut
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) July 7, 2023
The incident occurred despite his wife’s pleas to stay home that night, with Ahmad Yar insisting they needed the money for rent. At approximately midnight, D.C. Metro police discovered Ahmad Yar near his vehicle on 11th Street Northeast, suffering from a single gunshot wound.
Rushed to a local hospital, he was later pronounced dead, as confirmed by law enforcement officials. “All the family wants is justice for Nasrat,” expressed his cousin Samim Amiri.
Following the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan and the subsequent evacuation of U.S. military personnel in August 2021, Ahmad Yar, aged 31, had fled the country. He tirelessly worked 12-hour shifts for Lyft, acting as the sole provider for his wife and their four children, ranging in age from 15 months to 13 years.
In addition to supporting his immediate family, he selflessly sent money back to relatives still residing overseas. Ahmad Yar had dedicated almost a decade to serving as a beloved and dependable interpreter alongside U.S. special forces in Afghanistan.
Jeramie Malone, a friend who assisted Ahmad Yar and his family in relocating to the U.S. through a volunteer organization, recounted their harrowing experiences. Initially settling in Philadelphia, they later moved to Alexandria, Virginia, after falling victim to an armed robbery. Seeking a safer environment, they hoped for a fresh start less than a year ago.
Given his previous role as an interpreter for the U.S. government and the subsequent collapse of the Afghan government, Ahmad Yar became a target for the Taliban. “If he had stayed, he most certainly would have been a marked man,” noted retired Lt. Col. Matthew Butler, who had worked closely with Ahmad Yar during his deployments in Afghanistan.
Video footage from a security camera captured the shooting incident. The recording revealed a single gunshot followed by four young men fleeing down an alleyway. One of the individuals can be heard saying, “You killed him! He was about to get out,” to which another responded, “He was reaching, bro.”
Lyft, confirming Ahmad Yar’s affiliation with the company, has reached out to his family, expressing their condolences. “Our hearts are with Mr. Nasrat’s loved ones as they confront this unspeakable tragedy,” the company stated in a formal release.
As the investigation into this heartbreaking event unfolds, Ahmad Yar’s family and friends hope that justice will be served, honoring the memory of a dedicated father, valued interpreter, and brave individual who made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of a better life for his loved ones.
