An incident in upstate New York has left a 13-year-old boy dead after being shot by a police officer. The shooting occurred in Utica, a city located about 240 miles northwest of Manhattan, on Friday night.
According to Utica Police Chief Mark Williams, the officers stopped two youths, and one of them fled on foot, brandishing what appeared to be a handgun at the officers. During a ground struggle, one of the officers fired a single shot, hitting the teen in the chest. The boy, identified as Nyah Mway, was given immediate first aid but succumbed to his injuries at Wynn Hospital.
Nyah Mway was a 13-year-old Karen refugee born in Myanmar and an 8th grader at Donovan Middle School. Utica is home to a significant population of refugees from Myanmar, including the Karen ethnic minority group.
The replica firearm recovered at the scene was described as a realistic-looking GLOCK 17 Gen 5 handgun that only fires pellets or BB's. The incident is under investigation by the Office of the New York State Attorney General to determine its justification.
Utica City School District's interim superintendent, Kathleen Davis, expressed profound sadness over the tragic loss and offered condolences to the victim's family. Mayor Michael Galime assured transparency in the investigation and pledged to provide the community with all relevant information.
While a video of the incident has circulated on social media, Chief Williams cautioned that it may not capture the full context of the events. The officers involved will be placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigations.
Community members gathered at Utica City Hall to seek answers and express their concerns over the tragic incident. The city officials have promised to engage with the family and community to address their questions and provide support during this difficult time.
