Authorities Report Teen with Replica Gun Fatally Shot by Police
In a tragic incident late Friday night, a 13-year-old boy was fatally shot by police in Utica, New York, after a foot chase during which he pointed what appeared to be a handgun at officers. The weapon was later identified as a replica of a Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. when officers stopped two teenagers in connection with an armed robbery investigation.
The two youths, both 13, matched the descriptions of the robbery suspects and were in the same area at the same time the day after the robbery. One of the teens, identified as Nyah Mway, ran from the officers when they attempted to pat them down for weapons. Body camera footage released by the police shows Mway pointing the replica gun at the pursuing officers, prompting one of them to fire a single shot that struck Mway in the chest.
The officers immediately administered first aid and transported Mway to Wynn Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The replica gun, which closely resembled a real firearm with GLOCK markings, signatures, a detachable magazine, and serial numbers, was later found to be a pellet gun.
A bystander video posted on social media shows the chaotic scene, including the moment when an officer tackled Mway to the ground and another officer fired the fatal shot. The officer who fired the shot was identified as Patrick Husnay, a six-year veteran of the Utica Police Department. Husnay, along with Officers Bryce Patterson and Andrew Citriniti, has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation.
The police department released the body camera footage in response to public outcry and to provide transparency about the incident. The footage shows Mway running from the officers, pointing the replica gun at them, and being tackled by Patterson before Husnay fired the shot. The officers initially thought Mway might have shot himself, and Patterson can be heard saying, “I don’t know if he shot me,” though he was not struck.
The other youth involved in the incident was detained but not involved in the shooting. During a brief interview conducted after the shooting, Husnay stated that he fired one round “straight towards the ground” and believed the weapon was a real handgun.
The shooting has sparked significant community unrest in Utica, a city with a population of 65,000, including a large number of refugees from Myanmar. Nyah Mway was identified as a refugee from Myanmar and a member of the Karen ethnic minority. The Karen people are among the groups in conflict with Myanmar’s military rulers.
A tense news conference held on Saturday was cut short due to repeated outbursts from the audience, which included Mway’s family and community members. Utica Police Chief Mark Williams expressed his condolences to the family and described the incident as tragic and traumatic for all involved.
The police department is conducting an internal investigation to determine whether the officers followed proper policies and training. The New York State Attorney General’s office has also opened an investigation to assess whether the shooting was justified.
The incident has drawn attention to the dangers posed by realistic-looking replica guns. In recent years, there have been numerous cases where police have shot individuals carrying toy or replica firearms, unable to distinguish them from real weapons. This has led to calls for stricter regulations on the appearance of such replicas to prevent similar tragedies.
Utica Mayor Michael Galime called for calm and understanding during the news conference, emphasizing the importance of thoroughly understanding every aspect of the incident. The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, which has resettled many refugees in Utica, including those from Myanmar, highlighted the challenges faced by the community and the efforts of law enforcement to keep the streets safe.
The Utica City School District interim superintendent, Dr. Kathleen Davis, also issued a statement acknowledging the tragedy and the challenges it poses for the community and law enforcement.
As the investigations continue, the community of Utica grapples with the loss of a young life and the complex issues surrounding the use of replica firearms.
Source: CBS News, The Washington Post
