Off-duty security guard found guilty of killing teen outside Renton store
May 8, 2026, 5:45 PM | Updated: 5:47 pm
Screenshot of surveillance footage of the shooting in Renton. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
An off-duty security guard who shot and killed a teenager outside a store in Renton has been found guilty of murder and assault.
A King County jury convicted 52-year-old Aaron Myers on Friday of second-degree murder and second-degree assault in the death of 17-year-old Ali Rohani. The shooting happened outside the Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Renton in 2024.
Prosecutors said Rohani was carrying an airsoft or BB gun when he encountered Myers. Myers believed the gun was real and opened fire, killing the teen. KIRO 7 posted surveillance footage of the incident.
The case drew intense scrutiny over the use of force and the perception of threat, especially involving a juvenile with a replica firearm.
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Jurors weighed Myers’ claim that he thought he was responding to a serious threat against the evidence that showed his response was criminally excessive, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
In court, prosecutors argued Myers’ actions went far beyond what a reasonable person would have done in the same situation, even if they believed a gun was real. The conviction on both second-degree murder and assault reflects the jury’s conclusion that Myers unlawfully caused Rohani’s death.
Casey McNerthney, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, said Myers faces more than 28 years in prison, which includes a mandatory five-year deadly weapon enhancement per count.
Myers remains in custody as he awaits sentencing, which is scheduled for July 21 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.
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