Lisa Akbari, a U.S. Army veteran who later became an aid worker, was shot dead in her Kabul, Afghanistan, apartment building Sunday evening, officials say. Akbari, a dual Afghan-American citizen, worked as a research manager for the U.S. Army from 2009 to 2013. She later worked with World Vision and other NGOs in Afghanistan and had been living in the Karte Char area for three years before she was found dead, according to NBC News.
An unnamed U.S. official confirmed Akbari's death on Monday but declined to comment on the circumstances.
"We offer our sincerest condolences to her family and loved ones on their loss," the U.S. Embassy official said, according to the International Business Times. "We are providing all possible consular assistance."
A suspect was later detained about 2.5 miles away from the crime scene. He was taken to a hospital where hw as treated for injuries inflicted during his arrest and recent reports indicate that he has yet to be questioned about his assumed connection to the incident.
Though details and circumstances about the incident remain unclear, there are some rumors swirling around about it. Local news outlets suggest that a mullah, a Muslim trained in Islamic law, shot Akbari as she was leaving her apartment building's gym, according to CNN.
In the meantime, a police official says that Afghanistan's NDS intelligence agency have launched an investigation into the shooting and have seized documents from the mullah's residence that links him to terrorist groups. Which ones however, remain unclear.
