Police in Utica, NY, said an officer shot and killed a 13-year-old boy after a foot chase Friday night. Police said officers believe the boy brandished a handgun. Above, vehicles travel along Genesee Street after a fresh snowfall in Utica, NY, on January 31, 2017.
Hans Pennink/AP
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Hans Pennink/AP
Pain and anger engulfed Utica, New York after a police officer shot and killed Nyah Mway, a 13-year-old boy, on Friday night.
The Utica Police Department said the fatal shooting happened during a foot chase between Mway and three police officers. According to a statement released by the police department on Facebook, officers saw what they believed to be a handgun on Mway. Mway, who had graduated from middle school just two days earlier, was then wrestled to the ground before a police officer, later identified by police as Patrick Husnay, opened fire. The weapon on Mway’s body was later determined to be an air gun.
Efforts to contact Mway’s relatives were unsuccessful, but on a GoFundMe page set up by his family, he was remembered as “an outgoing child who loved to ride his bike and play outside.” His family said he was “a good kid” who had “never been in trouble with law enforcement before.”
Mway and his family came to the United States from Myanmar, also known as Burma, as Karen refugees more than eight years ago, according to a GoFundMe page. Over the years, thousands of Karen refugees settled in Utica to escape ethnic and religious persecution by the Myanmar government.
How did the shooting happen?
Police were patrolling West Utica streets Friday evening investigating a series of armed robberies in the area. Police said the suspects were described as Asian males carrying black guns.
At about 10 p.m., three police officers stopped Mway and another 13-year-old boy outside on the street because they believed the two boys had similar characteristics to the robbery suspect, police said.
In body camera footage released by law enforcement, a police officer asks to search Mway for weapons, and Mway tries to flee. The police followed.
In a statement, police said officers believed Mway was holding and pointing a gun at officers. In body camera footage, an officer can be seen yelling “Gun!” and tackling Mway to the ground. Moments later, all three officers are seen hovering over Mway. About 15 seconds into the chase, police opened fire.
Screams from onlookers followed. An officer attempted to perform chest compressions on Mway. He was then transported to Wynn Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Police said they recovered a replica of a Glock 17 Gen5 pistol with a removable magazine at the scene. Later, it was determined that it was an air gun.
The police officer was placed on paid administrative leave
Utica police identified the officers involved as Husnay, a six-year veteran of the Utica Police Department; Bryce Patterson, a four-year veteran; and Andrew Citriniti, who had been on the force for two and a half years.
Police Chief Mark Williams said all three officers have been placed on paid administrative leave.
Utica police said an internal investigation has been launched. The New York State Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigations will also investigate whether the shooting violated any state laws.
On Saturday, the Utica Police Department said in a statement, “We extend our condolences to the officers involved and the family of the teenager who was killed.”
In a statement later on Saturday evening, the ministry added: “It is our sincerest wish that at the conclusion of this investigation, an objective, fair and thorough investigation will be completed, providing answers to any remaining questions.”
Community Feedback
At a press conference Saturday, Utica Mayor Michael P. Galime said transparency will be a top priority.
“What happened last night in our community is an event that has become all too familiar and happens often, over and over again,” he said.
Scores of family, friends and community members attended the conference, expressing anger, sadness and disbelief at the situation.
On Saturday, hundreds of people also gathered to pray in memory of Mway, carrying flowers, balloons and candles.
“We will not be satisfied until the killers are jailed,” said Mway’s brother. Daily janitor report.
