Video released late Saturday shows an officer in upstate New York fatally shooting a 13-year-old boy who had been tackled to the ground after he ran from police and pointed a replica handgun at them.
The teen was killed a little after 10 pm Friday (02:00 GMT) in Utica after officers in the city about 400km (240 miles) northwest of Manhattan stopped two youths in connection with an armed robbery investigation, police said.
The youths, both 13, matched the descriptions of the robbery suspects and were in the same area at around the same time the day after, police said. One was also walking on the road, a violation of state traffic laws.
The body camera video released by police captures an officer saying he needs to pat them down to ensure they don’t have any weapons in their possession. Immediately one of the two, identified by police as Nyah Mway, runs away.
The officers believed it was a handgun, police said, but it was later determined to be a replica of a Glock 17 Gen5 handgun with a detachable magazine.
“During a ground struggle” with the teen, one of the officers fired a single shot that struck the boy in the chest, Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said.
The teen was given “immediate” first aid by the officers and taken to Wynn Hospital, where he died, the chief said.
The replica gun carried by the teen “is in all aspects a realistic appearing firearm with GLOCK markings, signatures, detachable magazine, and serial numbers,” Lt. Michael Curley, a police spokesperson, said via email. “However ultimately it fires only pellets or BBs.”
A bystander video posted to Facebook shows one of the officers chasing after Nyah Mway and tackling him to the ground. It also shows the officer punching the teen as two other officers arrive. A gunshot rings out as the teen is on the ground and the officers quickly stand up.
Williams cautioned that the bystander video does not portray the event in its entirety.
The officers involved in the shooting, whose names were not immediately released, were placed on administrative leave with pay.
Nyah Mway, who local media reports said was an 8th grader at Donovan Middle School, has been identified as a refugee born in Myanmar and a member of the Karen ethnic minority.
Karens are an ethnic minority that is among the group’s rulers warring with the military rulers of the Southeast Asian country formerly known as Burma.
Davis expressed “profound sadness” over the “tragic and senseless loss” and also offered support to “our partners in law enforcement, who tirelessly strive to ensure our streets remain safe.
“I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased party during this difficult time,” he said. “This is a tragic and traumatic incident for all involved.”
