В 1987 году Шапиро и его коллега по съёмкам Джим Линдлоф были убиты в Афганистане во время
Афганской войны
. Группа сопротивления, с которой они ездили, сообщила, что они попали в засаду то ли Советских войск, то ли афганского правительства. Однако, подробности дела подвергаются сомнению, отчасти из-за дурной славы лидера группы,
Гульбедди́на Хекматия́ра
.
В 2006 году документальный фильм Сюзанны Бауман и Джима Бороу «Тень Афганистана» впервые был показан на телеэкране. В него входили материалы из плёнки, изначально отснятой Шапиро
.
,
United States Department of State
, March 1988, The campaign to target foreign journalists had more tragic results. Two American filmmakers, Lee Shapiro and Jim Lindelof, were apparently killed by a regime attack while traveling with the mujahidin. In 1986, Lindelof had been named paramedic of the year for his efforts training Afghan medical workers. In response to protests, Kabul stated it could not «guarantee the security of foreign subjects» who enter illegally, whose presence it views as «evidence» of «external interference.»
,
Pacific Stars and Stripes
, October 29, 1987
,
Christian Science Monitor
, October 28, 1987 «Two American journalists are believed dead in northwest Afghanistan, diplomatic and resistance forces say here. Filmmaker Lee Shapiro and his soundman, Jim Lindalos, both of New York, were killed Oct. 11, reportedly in a Soviet or Afghan government ambush, according to United States consular officials. However, the resistance group that accompanied the film team has a poor reputation among most informed observers, and doubts have arisen over whether the two Americans did indeed die in an Afghan government or Soviet attack.»
Kaplan, Robert,
Soldiers of God : With Islamic Warriors in Afghanistan and Pakistan,
New York : Vintage Departures, 2001, p.170
,
Huffington Post
, December 3, 2008, «A wonderful documentary, 20 years in the making, is Shadow of Afghanistan. Lee Shapiro began shooting in 1986 and the film has some of the most startling yet intimate footage ever seen of a country at war. Shapiro and his soundman Jim Lindelof disappeared while filming. The footage was obtained by another filmmaking team who saw it to completion by a skeleton crew’s labor of love, not least of whom is editor Mary Ann Skweres' contribution to the entire film cut. Shadow of Afghanistan has already had an Academy qualifying run and is also vying for an Independent Spirit Award nomination.»
6 января 2009 года.
, Alliance of Women Film Journalists, «It took 20 years to complete this documentary chronicling developments in Afghanistan, from Eisenhower’s 1959 friendly visit, through Soviet invasion and expulsion, the ensuing civil war, to post-9/11 American bombing and occupation. The film uses extraordinary footage, some shot by slain journalist Lee Shapiro, to present the lives of a beleaguered people. (Seen at Tribeca Film Festival)»
Ссылки
by his friend Erwin Franzen.
by , the founder of the Unification Church.
official site.
, 2007 book by filmmaker Jim Burroughs who investigated Shapiro’s death.