17-year-old Arrested in Connection With the Death of Pakistani American Lyft Driver Abdul Rauf Khan in Maryland

The 71-year-old owned the popular Chutney restaurant in Alexandria for decades and was driving to help save money to send his 16-year-old daughter to college.

Arrests have been made in connection with the Feb. 26 death of a Pakistani American Lyft driver in Temple Hill in Maryland’s Prince George’s County. News reports said Abdul Rauf Khan, 71, of Springfield, Virginia, died after he was shot multiple times while driving. Police reportedly found Khan suffering from gunshot wounds in the roadway. He eventually died from his wounds in the hospital.

The prime accused in Khan’s death is a 17-year-old, who has yet to be publicly named. Police believe he was picked up by Khan as a fare in D.C. He has confessed to shooting Khan during a carjacking, and faces first-degree murder charges, as well as carjacking charges, and will be tried in court as an adult, PGPD Chief Malik Aziz said at a press conference on March 2.

When the 17-year-old was picked up, there were two other occupants in Khan’s car. They included another 17-year-old and 19-year-old Daquan Childs of D.C. According to news reports citing the March 2 press conference, the 17-year-old in the car was arrested in connection with another carjacking on Feb. 26 night. Police believe Khan’s stolen vehicle was used in that carjacking. Childs was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Khan came to the U.S. from Pakistan in search of a better life, according to a fundraiser page launched to help support Abdul Rauf’s family. He owned the popular Chutney restaurant in Alexandria for decades. He was driving Lyft to help save money to send his 16-year-old daughter to college. His wife Saba worked as a teacher in Fairfax.

At the March 2 press conference, Khan’s wife Saba said that her life has gone “upside-down” after Khan’s death. “I don’t know what to do, because (Khan) was the pillar of our life.”

Lyft issued a statement after Khan’s death. “Our hearts are with Mr. Khan’s loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and we’re in touch with Mr.Khan’s family to offer our support,” read the statement posted on the fundraiser page. “We will continue to assist law enforcement in any way we can, and will continue our efforts to combat this senseless violence and help keep drivers safe.”

Khan’s friend Agah Ali, who started the fundraising campaign described him as “a man of the people.” He said Khan was “someone everyone could depend on and look towards for support.”

In 2017 Khan “was hailed as a hero and received an award for bravery for intervening when an Alexandria police officer was being attacked,” Ali said. “He jumped in and he saved that police officer’s life because that is the type of man he was.”