ORLANDO, Fla. — Ibragim Todashev's father spoke out for the first time since his son was shot and killed by an FBI agent in Orlando while being questioned about his ties to Tamerlan Tsarneav and a Boston-area triple homicide.
Speaking from his home in Chechnya, Abdul-Baki Todashev proclaimed his son's innocence.
"I can say with 100 percent confidence that my son was not guilty of anything," Abdul-Baki said.
Ibragim Todashev was shot and killed on Wednesday while he was being questioned by FBI agents at the Windhover condos in Orlando, according to officials. They were interviewing him about his connection to Tamerlan Tsarneav and a Boston-area triple homicide from 2011, officials said. Agents claim Ibragim lunged at them with a knife during questioning, prompting them to open fire on him.
Ibragim's father defended his son and said he was not a criminal.
"I know my son well. I know he is not able to commit any crime, whatever American press service or media say," Abdul-Baki said.
The FBI cleared the crime scene at the Windhover condos Friday night. An FBI review team was sent to Orlando to conduct its own investigation following the incident.
Neighbors told WFTV they heard the incident unfold early Wednesday morning. Xelmada Molina said she heard two gunshots.
"She just went and check if we okay, like if a bad guy was in our house," Molina said via a translator.
Molina said she looked out the window and saw law enforcement agents talking on the phone.
Eyewitness News has learned the FBI turned over Ibragim Todashev's body to his estranged wife, Reniya Manukyan. Manukyan said it's at a funeral home on Kirkman Road.
She also said she's still waiting for the FBI to give her his personal belongings, including his passport. According to Manukyan, Ibragim's body will be flown to his native Russia, where he'll be buried.
WFTV
