Police in Utica, NY, say an officer shot a 13-year-old boy after an afternoon chase. Police said officers believe the boy was brandishing a handgun. Above, vehicles move on Genesee Street after fresh snow, in Utica, NY, January 31, 2017.
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Hans Pennink/AP
Grief and anger surrounded the city of Utica, NY after police shot and killed Nyah Mway, a 13-year-old boy, on Friday night.
The Utica Police Department said the fatal shooting occurred during a foot chase between Mway and three officers. The officer saw what he believed to be a handgun on Mway, according to a statement the department released on Facebook. Mway, who graduated from high school just two days earlier, was then tackled to the ground before the officer, later identified by police as Patrick Husnay, discharged his firearm. The weapon in Mway was later determined to be a pellet gun.
Attempts to contact Mway’s relatives were unsuccessful, but on a GoFundMe page set up by his family, he was remembered as “an outgoing kid who loved to ride his bike and play outside.” The family said he was a “good kid” who had “never been in trouble with law enforcement before.”
Mway and his family came to the U.S. from Myanmar, also known as Burma, as Karen refugees more than eight years ago, according to the GoFundMe page. Over the years, thousands of Karen refugees have settled in Utica to flee ethnic and religious persecution by the Myanmar government.
How the shooting unfolds
On Friday night, police officers patrolled the streets of West Utica to investigate a series of armed robberies in the area. The suspect is described as an Asian man carrying a black firearm, police said.
Around 10 p.m., three officers stopped Mway and another 13-year-old boy outside on the street, believing the two boys matched the description of the robbery suspects, police said.
In body-camera footage released by law enforcement, officers ask Mway for a weapon, and Mway tries to run. The officers followed.
In a statement, police said officers believed Mway was holding and pointing a firearm at the officer. In the body-cam footage, an officer yells “Gun!” and tackled Mway to the ground. Not long after, three officers were seen hovering over Mway. About 15 seconds after the chase began, shots were fired by the police.
Screams from the onlookers. One officer attempted to perform chest compressions on Mway. He was later transported to Wynn Hospital where he died from his injuries.
Police said they found a replica Glock 17 Gen5 handgun with a detachable magazine at the scene. It was later determined to be a pellet gun.
The police officer was placed on administrative leave with pay
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 has been on the force for two and a half years.
Police Chief Mark Williams said all three officers have been placed on administrative leave with pay.
Utica police say an internal investigation has been launched. The New York State Attorney’s Office of Special Investigations will also investigate whether the shooting violated state law.
On Saturday, the Utica police department said in a statement, “Our thoughts are with our officers, and the family of the little boy who died.”
In a statement later on Saturday night, the department added, “It is our sincere desire that at the conclusion of the investigation, an impartial, fair, and thorough investigation will be completed, providing answers to the remaining questions.”
Response from the community
At a news conference Saturday, Utica Mayor Michael P. Galime said transparency will be a priority.
“What happened yesterday evening in our community is an event that has become familiar and routine, repeatedly,” he said.
Troves of family, friends and community members attended the conference, expressing anger, grief and disbelief at the situation.
On Saturday, hundreds also gathered to honor Mway, bringing flowers, balloons and candles.
“We will not be satisfied until the killers are put in jail,” Mway’s elder brother said. The Daily Sentinel reported.
