An upstate New York city is in uproar following the tragic death of a 13-year-old boy who was shot and killed by police during a confrontation after allegedly brandishing a pellet gun, according to authorities.
Nyah Mway was fatally shot by a Utica police officer around 10:20 p.m. on Friday night after being stopped by police while walking down the street with another minor, the police reported.
Video footage circulating on social media shows three officers pursuing the boy along a dimly lit street, with one officer tackling him to the ground. The other two officers join in as onlookers shout at the police.
Amidst the commotion, a woman can be heard cautioning, “Careful, careful, yo, careful. You’re on camera.”
Then, a gunshot is heard.
“Oh my God! Yo! He just shot him!” one witness exclaims in shock.
Community members expressed their outrage and demanded justice at a highly charged press conference on Saturday, with emotions running high and some attendees shouting over local officials.
During the press conference, attended by a large crowd outside city hall, including 50 of Mway’s family members, tensions rose as people demanded answers and accountability from the authorities.
Heartbroken and distraught, Mway’s mother broke down and screamed as the officials’ remarks were translated into her native Burmese, according to reports.
Utica Police Chief Mark Williams acknowledged the charged atmosphere, saying, “There’s a lot of emotions in this room.”
“But you’re asking us to be transparent, and when you shout over us, it makes it very difficult to do so,” he added.
Chief Williams stated that Mway, who is of Asian descent, had what appeared to be a handgun as he fled from the police.
He explained that the officers tackled the teen and fired a single shot “during a ground struggle,” resulting in the boy being shot in the chest and succumbing to his injuries at Wynn Hospital in Utica.
Authorities recovered a replica Glock pellet gun with a detachable magazine at the scene.
Utica Mayor Michael Galime expressed his condolences to the families, the community, and the wider area, acknowledging the tragedy that unfolded during the incident.
After the press conference, Mayor Galime assured the boy’s mother that body camera footage would be released, as community members demanded accountability and justice.
The Attorney General’s office will be conducting an investigation into the shooting, in addition to an internal investigation by the Utica Police Department.
“This is a tragic and traumatic incident for all involved,” Chief Williams remarked.
The three officers involved have been placed on paid leave, with their identities set to be disclosed shortly, according to Chief Williams.
While acknowledging the existence of online videos depicting the shooting, the police emphasized in a statement that the footage “does not portray the incident in its entirety.”
