WASHINGTON — The name of the Fairfax County Police officer who shot a man outside his home last month is still unknown.
U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis of the Eastern District of Virginia, postponed a hearing on releasing the officer’s name, delaying the announcement even further. The judge’s decision came after new evidence was presented in court Wednesday.
The evidence “must be carefully examined and investigated before the chief can ascertain whether there’s a credible threat to the officers safety,” court document said.
Ellis had granted a temporary order Monday barring the county from releasing the officer’s name.
The unnamed officer shot and killed Mohammed Doudzai, 32, outside his home Jan. 16 after police say he set a fire, took a person hostage and shot both of his brothers. Officers say they tried to disarm Doudzai before delivering a fatal shot.
In 2016, the Fairfax County Police Department changed its policy on naming officer-involved shootings, vowing to release the name of officers involved in deadly shootings no later than 10 days after the fact.
It has been three weeks since the shooting.
The policy change followed an investigation into the department’s more than yearlong delay in naming Adam Torres, the officer responsible for the August 2013 killing of John Geer, a Springfield, Virginia, man.
