Teen with pellet gun fatally shot by police: Body cam footage released as community calls for accountability
UTICA, N.Y. (WSYR) — Police in Utica, New York, have released footage from officers' uniform-worn cameras which appears to show a teenager pointing an object at them seconds before he was tackled to the ground and fatally shot. The boy's family is now demanding justice.
Shortly after 10 p.m. EDT on Friday, police in Utica stopped two 13-year-old boys because they matched the description of a pair of suspects wanted for two recent robberies in the West Utica area, according to a department spokesperson. Officers also noted one of the teens was walking in the road, a violation of state traffic law.
"The suspects were described as Asian males who brandished a black in color firearm and forcibly demanded and stole property from victims," police said, "...one being on foot and the other on a bicycle."
Footage from the uniform-worn cameras shows an officer asking if he can search the teenagers for weapons. Nyah Mway is then seen running from officers, who then chase him.
The footage, some of which is seen in the video player below, then shows Mway apparently pointing an object at the officers.
"Gun! Gotta gun!" an officer can be heard shouting as they chase Mway.
Officer Bryce Patterson caught up with Nyah Mway, tackled and punched him, and as the two wrestled on the ground, Officer Patrick Husnay opened fire, body camera video showed.
Officers called for help and rendered their own first aid before an ambulance arrived. Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said at a news conference Saturday that the single shot hit the youth in the chest.
Along with the video, police released photos, seen below, which show the weapon found with Mway's body. Police have since determined it is a pellet gun with the brand name, "Glock."
"We will fully cooperate with the Attorney General's Office," Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said on Saturday morning. "They will ultimately make the decision whether or not the shooting of the individual is justified or not."
Three officers involved — Bryce Patterson, Andrew Citriniti, and Patrick Husnay, who fired the shot — are on paid administrative leave, a policy of the department's after an officer-involved shooting.
Under New York law, the attorney general's office looks into every death at the hands of law enforcement. The Utica Police Department's probe, meanwhile, will explore whether officers followed policies and training.
The police chief called the shooting “a tragic and traumatic incident for all involved.”
Family, community demand accountability after shooting
While the official investigations continues, Nyah Mway's family and outraged community members have demanded accountability for the death of the teen, who was born in Myanmar and is a member of its Karen ethnic minority.
Utica residents of Karen descent planned to meet Sunday afternoon with Utica Mayor Michael P. Galime, said Daniel Cribb, who works with a Karen community group. A message seeking comment was sent to the mayor's office.
At a vigil Saturday night, Nyah Mway's brother, Lah, said through an interpreter that he wouldn't be satisfied until the officers "are put in jail,” Syracuse.com reported.
Nyah Mway and his family came to the United States nine years ago, according to speakers at the vigil.
Others at the vigil questioned officials' account of the shooting.
“None of it adds up,” said Kay Klo, one of those at the gathering.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.