A former cabdriver who was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2013 shooting of a Virginia police officer has admitted to setting the home of one of his mental health providers on fire.
Kashif Bashir pleaded guilty in a Prince William County court Tuesday.
In 2019, Bashir, 36, of Woodbridge, was indicted on felony counts of arson, attempted arson and making a false statement on a consent form to buy a firearm, among other charges that also included stalking.
Investigators said they found plastic bottles in mulch at the house that was set on fire that were similar to plastic bottles found in Bashir’s house.
For setting fire to an occupied dwelling, Bashir faces a sentence of five years to life in prison.
In 2014, Bashir was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the shooting of Alexandria police officer Peter Laboy, who survived. Laboy had been helping a woman that Bashir was accused of stalking when he was shot.
Bashir was released from a mental hospital in 2018 with conditions. Eight months later, he was charged with setting fire to the home of his therapist.
In April 2020, Bashir sought an insanity defense for the arson and stalking trial but he was found competent to stand trial.
- More Coverage of Kashif Bashir’s Cases
- More Prince William County News
- More Alexandria News
- More Virginia News
WTOP’s Neal Augenstein contributed to this report.
