On a late Saturday night, video footage was released showing a tragic incident in upstate New York where a 13-year-old boy was fatally shot by police. The boy, identified as Nyah Mway, was tackled to the ground after fleeing from officers and pointing a replica handgun at them. The incident occurred shortly after 10 p.m. on Friday in Utica, a city located approximately 240 miles northwest of Manhattan.
The police had stopped two youths, both 13 years old, in connection with an armed robbery investigation. The youths 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 youths was also walking in the road, which is a violation of state traffic law.
Body camera footage released by the police captures an officer informing the youths that he needs to pat them down to ensure they don’t have any weapons. At this point, Nyah Mway ran away. Authorities later froze frames of the video showing Nyah Mway pointing what appeared to be a gun at the pursuing officers. The officers believed it was a real handgun, but it was later determined to be a replica of a Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun with a detachable magazine.
During a struggle on the ground, one of the officers fired a single shot that struck Nyah Mway in the chest. Utica Police Chief Mark Williams stated that the officers provided immediate first aid to the teen and transported him to Wynn Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The replica gun carried by Nyah Mway was described as a realistic-looking firearm with Glock markings, signatures, a detachable magazine, and serial numbers. However, it only fired pellets or BBs.
A bystander video posted on Facebook shows one of the officers chasing Nyah Mway and tackling him to the ground. The video also shows the officer punching the teen as two other officers arrive. A gunshot is heard as the teen is on the ground, and the officers quickly stand up.
The officer who fired the shot was identified as Patrick Husnay, a six-year veteran of the agency. Husnay, along with Officers Bryce Patterson and Andrew Citriniti, were placed on administrative leave with pay. The body camera footage shows a chaotic scene where Nyah Mway points the replica handgun at the officers while running from them. The officers shout “gun!” to each other as they pursue him. Patterson tackles and punches Nyah Mway, and during the struggle, Husnay fires his weapon.
Initially, officers thought Nyah Mway may have shot himself. Patterson is heard saying, “I don’t know if he shot me,” though it is unclear whether he was referring to Nyah Mway or a fellow officer. Patterson was not struck. Bystanders can be heard screaming at the police throughout the recordings, and at one point, an officer yells back, “We’re trying to save him right now!”
The other youth was detained in the back of a police vehicle and was not involved in the shooting. During his public safety statement, a brief interview typically conducted after a police shooting to ensure there is no additional threat, Husnay said he fired one round “straight towards the ground.” He did not know whether Nyah Mway had fired at the officers but believed the weapon was a .22-caliber handgun.
The release of the body camera footage followed a public outcry as the shooting caused unrest in Utica, a city with a population of 65,000. The city is home to more than 4,200 people from Myanmar, according to The Center, a nonprofit organization that helps resettle refugees. Nyah Mway, who was reported to be an 8th grader at Donovan Middle School, was identified as a refugee born in Myanmar and a member of the Karen ethnic minority. The Karen are an ethnic minority involved in conflicts with the military rulers of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests seeking a return to democratic rule.
A tense news conference on Saturday ended early as Williams, the city’s mayor, and an interpreter struggled to speak over repeated audience outbursts. Members of the community, including Nyah Mway’s family, were in attendance. The police department is conducting an internal investigation to determine whether the officers followed policies and training. The state attorney general will also open a case to determine if the shooting was justified.
“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.”
Source: Associated Press, The Trace
