Paul Zeller risked his life serving in the U.S. Army’s rugged 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq for three years and returned to his family a decorated war veteran. But the 24-year-old met his untimely death not in a war zone, but near the Pentagon Row Shopping Center in Arlington. Late on the night of June 29, 2006, Zeller made his way from work at the College Park Honda dealership and stopped at a nearby Harris Teeter grocery store. He then took the Metro to Pentagon City and was walking home toward Aurora Highlands when he was shot on the 1300 block of South Joyce Street. He was pronounced dead at 12:06 a.m., killed by multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.
Zeller had been living with his sister Lydia, a naval officer, and her family in Arlington. He helped by taking care of her 8- and 5-year-old children, making them breakfast and walking them to school in the morning.
“He was just being a good uncle, trying to help out,” Paul’s brother, William Zeller, who served in the Air Force until 2008, told The Washington Examiner.
In early 2007, about a year after Paul’s death, William and wife Katrina set up a website dedicated to gathering and updating information on the case. William Zeller also emails the police with any tips or updates that he receives. Zeller said that months ago, someone contacted him saying that they were walking not far in front of Paul when the attack happened.
“They said that they heard the gunshots and could feel the blasts,” Zeller said. He added that the police contacted this person and questioned him.
Even though Paul’s slaying is now filed under cold cases, William said their mother and the rest of the family still remain vigilant.
“The most important thing in her mind is that the police find who did this, there’s no closure until this happens,” William Zeller said.
