Camila Wright traveled all the way to Budapest to meet a man she’d only been talking to for several months. And when he greeted her at the airport carrying flowers, Wright knew instantly it was worth it.
“Three years ago, I met the love of my life, Shahriar Zolfaghari,” Wright said Friday outside her Cobb County home.
Nine months later, the two were married, and last year, their daughter, Zoya, was born. The young family was happy, already making plans to grow larger with more children of their own or through adoption. Zolfaghari had been living in Budapest, but now, Georgia was where he wanted to be.
But early Wednesday, everything changed. While Zolfaghari was working as a Lyft driver, the 36-year-old was shot and killed in northeast Atlanta, according to police. By Friday afternoon, no arrests had been made in the case.
“This is not right,” Wright said. “This is so wrong. Zoya will not remember him.”
Wright, a state assistant attorney general, had seen through her work how lives had been shattered by senseless crimes. This time, she and her daughter were the victims. Outside the family’s Mableton home, Wright spoke publicly Friday for the first time as she held her daughter, who recently celebrated her first birthday.
When Zoya was born, Zolfaghari had vowed that one of them would always be with her, and he kept his promise. He quit his job in real estate development so his days would be free.
“While I worked every day, he decided to stay home with her,” Wright said. “He wanted to have that time with her.”
Zolfaghari would send his wife pictures during the day of Zoya, and when it was nap time, the baby would sleep right on her father’s chest, Wright said.
But Zolfaghari had wanted to contribute to the family’s income, so in the evenings, he worked as a Lyft driver. After the family had dinner, the three had time together before bath time and bed time for Zoya. That’s when Zolfaghari would head to work, driving others where they needed to go.
Wright worried about her husband doing the job, and there were certain areas of town where he wouldn’t pick up riders because he, too, was worried about his safety. Zolfaghari tried to remain vigilant and careful, and Wright said he felt secure. She didn’t.
“I feel like God has been preparing me for this day,” Wright said. “I was always afraid something like this would happen.”
Her husband was generous and always willing to help others. And Wright said during one of their final conversations, Zolfaghari had said he wanted to lend another family money to get a water heater.
Later while he was working, the couple had exchanged text messages, including one about a ride that was so short Zolfaghari only made $3, Wright said.
“I sent him a smile and I fell asleep,” Wright said.
Around 4 a.m., Wright woke up confused. She thought she’d remembered her husband coming in, giving her a kiss and climbing into bed. But he wasn’t there, and he didn’t answer her calls.
Wright said she called investigators she knew through her job, and it was those friends who first helped her track down the horrific news. Zolfaghari had been found in his car at the intersection of Rankin Street and Boulevard, and he had been shot twice, police said.
On Friday, the investigation continued into the death, but no arrests had been made. A $10,000 reward — including $5,000 announced by Gov. Nathan Deal Friday afternoon — is being offered to help find the person responsible for the shooting.
Outside her family’s home, Wright briefly held her daughter and was surrounded by family members, including her brother and parents. The family is devastated, though grateful for the outpouring of support shown from the community.
“I felt like it took me a lifetime to find him,” she said. “I will always be grateful for those three years.”
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