WASHINGTON — The man accused of shooting and seriously wounding an Alexandria police officer in 2013 was found not guilty by reason of insanity by a judge on Thursday.
Judge James C. Clark reasoned Kashif Bashir’s defense team had met the burden, proving Bashir was not criminally responsible for the shooting because his mental illness made him unaware of the nature and consequences of his actions.
Bashir, 29, of Woodbridge, was charged with attempted capital murder after prosecutors said he shot a motorcycle officer who stopped him in Old Town in February, 2013.
The officer, Peter Laboy, was approaching Bashir’s yellow cab minivan when officials say Bashir shot him in the head. Bashir fled the scene, prompting a police chase that ended when Bashir crashed his cab in Fairfax County and was arrested.
Laboy, a 17-year police veteran and father of four, suffered critical injuries that still affect him despite a remarkable recovery. Doctors say he is unable to work and drive and his conditions are not expected to improve.
Before the trial began on Monday, Bashir, who was recently diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, was found incompetent to stand trial twice. Court filings indicate he was forced take anti-psychotic medication to allow the proceeding to continue.
During the course of the trial, several witnesses testified to Bashir’s mental illness. Family members testified he was isolated and always in his room and they had very little contact with him. Friends say he became distant in recent years and when confronted couldn’t give a clear answer as to why.
A forensic psychologist who evaluated Bashir testified the former cab driver showed symptoms of paranoid psychosis, with delusions as his predominant symptom.
Other forensic psychologists testified similarly, one saying Bashir believed his thoughts were being stolen, he was telepathic and had crossed into an alternate universe. Another saying Bashir thought he could broadcast his thoughts into his passengers’ mind.
The defense’s key witness was a doctor who testified to the difficulty in faking symptoms of severe psychosis. She said, “faking psychosis well is virtually impossible, especially with the symptoms (Bashir) is having.”
Bashir’s older sister said the siblings’ mother suffered for years from mental illness, which she said had an impact on Bashir. A doctor at the trial confirmed that Bashir is genetically predisposed to the illness.
On the day of the shooting, a doctor testified Bashir awoke knowing he’d “do all the bad things” voices had told him to do, including rape women, rob and kill. After his arrest, Bashir told a doctor he thought officers were taking him to paradise and that he did not believe Laboy was a person, but a spirit who could regenerate.
Bashir bought a 6-pack of beer that morning and told doctors he drank three in an effort to give himself the courage to carry out the acts voices were commanding him to do.
Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter said after the trial Peter Laboy was disappointed, but prepared for the verdict.
Bashir is remanded to the Department of Behavioral Health where experts there have 45 days to write a report to submit to the judge. Judge Clark will then decide whether Bashir will be committed, released with conditions or released entirely.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on the WTOP Facebook page.
