UTICA, NEW YORK - An officer involved shooting resulted in the death of 13-year-old Nyah Mway after he pointed a replica firearm at officers.
According to authorities, the young boy was fatally shot by a police officer during a confrontation after he ran from law enforcement while carrying what turned out to be a replica handgun.
The shooting occurred around 10:15 p.m. when officers stopped two youths for an unspecified police investigation. Details regarding the nature of the investigation remain unclear, as Utica Police Chief Mark Williams did not disclose the reasons for the initial stop.
However, during the encounter, Nyah reportedly fled from the officers, which led to a pursuit. During the chase, Nyah displayed what appeared to be a real Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun.
The gun, later identified as a replica, closely resembled a genuine firearm, complete with Glock markings, a detachable magazine, and serial numbers. Despite its realistic appearance, the replica was only capable of firing pellets or BBs, as explained by Lt. Michael Curley, a police spokesperson.
As the situation escalated, one officer managed to tackle Nyah to the ground. In the ensuing struggle, the officer discharged his weapon, striking Nyah in the chest.
The officers on the scene provided immediate first aid, and Nyah was transported to Wynn Hospital. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The incident was captured in a bystander video posted on social media, which shows the officer chasing and tackling Nyah. The video also depicts the officer punching the teen before the sound of a gunshot is heard.
Chief Williams cautioned that the video does not capture the full scope of the events and may not provide a complete context of the situation.
In response to the shooting, the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave with pay, pending further investigation, which is standard practice following a shooting event.
The Utica Police Department is conducting an internal investigation to determine whether the officers followed proper policies and training protocols. Additionally, the New York State Attorney General's office has opened its own investigation to assess whether the use of force was justified. This process is also standard.
Utica is a city with a diverse population that includes a significant number of refugees from Myanmar. Nyah, identified as a member of the Karen ethnic minority and an eighth grader at Donovan Middle School, was part of this community. The Karen people have been embroiled in conflict with the country's military rulers following a coup in 2021.
During a tense news conference, Chief Williams, alongside the city's mayor and an interpreter, faced interruptions and outbursts from the audience, which included Nyah's family and community members. Williams expressed his condolences to the family, acknowledging the incident as tragic and traumatic for all involved.
He also committed to releasing unedited footage from the officers' body-worn cameras, but this had not been made available by Saturday evening.
“I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased party during this difficult time,” Williams said. “This is a tragic and traumatic incident for all involved.”
According to authorities, the young boy was fatally shot by a police officer during a confrontation after he ran from law enforcement while carrying what turned out to be a replica handgun.
The shooting occurred around 10:15 p.m. when officers stopped two youths for an unspecified police investigation. Details regarding the nature of the investigation remain unclear, as Utica Police Chief Mark Williams did not disclose the reasons for the initial stop.
However, during the encounter, Nyah reportedly fled from the officers, which led to a pursuit. During the chase, Nyah displayed what appeared to be a real Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun.
The gun, later identified as a replica, closely resembled a genuine firearm, complete with Glock markings, a detachable magazine, and serial numbers. Despite its realistic appearance, the replica was only capable of firing pellets or BBs, as explained by Lt. Michael Curley, a police spokesperson.
As the situation escalated, one officer managed to tackle Nyah to the ground. In the ensuing struggle, the officer discharged his weapon, striking Nyah in the chest.
The officers on the scene provided immediate first aid, and Nyah was transported to Wynn Hospital. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The incident was captured in a bystander video posted on social media, which shows the officer chasing and tackling Nyah. The video also depicts the officer punching the teen before the sound of a gunshot is heard.
Chief Williams cautioned that the video does not capture the full scope of the events and may not provide a complete context of the situation.
In response to the shooting, the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave with pay, pending further investigation, which is standard practice following a shooting event.
The Utica Police Department is conducting an internal investigation to determine whether the officers followed proper policies and training protocols. Additionally, the New York State Attorney General's office has opened its own investigation to assess whether the use of force was justified. This process is also standard.
Utica is a city with a diverse population that includes a significant number of refugees from Myanmar. Nyah, identified as a member of the Karen ethnic minority and an eighth grader at Donovan Middle School, was part of this community. The Karen people have been embroiled in conflict with the country's military rulers following a coup in 2021.
During a tense news conference, Chief Williams, alongside the city's mayor and an interpreter, faced interruptions and outbursts from the audience, which included Nyah's family and community members. Williams expressed his condolences to the family, acknowledging the incident as tragic and traumatic for all involved.
He also committed to releasing unedited footage from the officers' body-worn cameras, but this had not been made available by Saturday evening.
“I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased party during this difficult time,” Williams said. “This is a tragic and traumatic incident for all involved.”
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Comments
2024-07-02T15:36-0500 | Comment by: Harry
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes !!
2024-07-03T11:32-0500 | Comment by: David
Brought a replica gun to a gunfight. That kid's parents are equally, if not more responsible for this. My heart goes out to those officers. They do not deserve this...or the biased "investigation" that will undoubtedly follow.
2024-07-03T12:30-0500 | Comment by: Candice
Kids, parents, THINK! LEO wants to go home tonight! Do not make them shoot you! If you are a leader-kid, make them hear you say DITCH THE REPLICA! they will kill you, they won't want to, but they will if they have to.