A 13-year-old boy in New York state was shot and killed by police after he fled from police with a replica handgun, authorities said.
Police said officers stopped Nyah Mway and another 13-year-old Friday night because they matched the description of a suspect wanted in connection with a recent robbery in Utica.
When police questioned the boys, Nia Mwe fled on foot and a chase ensued. Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said officers found what “appeared to be a handgun.”
An officer then pushed the boy to the ground. “During the struggle on the ground,” another officer fired one shot, striking the teen in the chest, the police chief said.
He received first aid at the scene but later died at Wynn Hospital.
Police released several minutes of body camera footage from all officer cameras Saturday night.
Moments earlier, angry local community members questioned the Utica police chief at a news conference attended by the boy’s family.
Utica Mayor Michael Galime called for calm, saying, “We understand the seriousness of this situation and want to make sure every detail is understood.”
The video shows the teen pointing at what police say is a replica weapon as he runs away. Police can be heard shouting “Shoot!” at each other.
Police said officers believed they saw a real handgun, but later determined it was a replica of a Glock 17 weapon that can only fire pellets or BB rounds.
The three officers involved were on patrol in the West Utica area, assisting in the investigation of two recent robberies nearby.
In one incident on June 27, two men armed with black firearms commandeered and stole the victim’s property. The suspects are described as an Asian male and a dark-skinned male – one on foot and one on a bicycle.
Authorities said they used these “identifying factors” to stop Nyah Mway and another teenager at around 22:00 local time.
The officers involved were Patrick Husnay, Bryce Patterson and Andrew Citriniti, who fired the fatal shots. They have been placed on administrative leave.
The New York Attorney General’s Office and Utica Police are investigating the shooting.
