A 13-year-old boy was shot by the Utica Police after mistakenly identifying the teen carrying a replica handgun during a police chase.
The situation occurred at approximately 10 p.m. in upstate New York City, when police officers, conducting a standard inquiry, tried to interrogate two adolescents. While chasing one of the teenagers who ran away, the police officers saw what looked like a gun in his hand.
Police Chief Mark Williams mentioned that the officer shot his gun during a physical altercation on the ground, hitting the individual known as Nyah Mway, an Asian male, who was later identified.
Police Shoots 13-Year-Old Boy With Pellet Gun
The conflict started when Utica police detained two minors as a part of a continuing investigation. While officers were questioning the teens, one of them ran away, resulting in a pursuit on foot.
Chief Williams stated that officers witnessed an object they believed to be a handgun, leading to one officer firing his gun. After the 13-year-old boy was seen injured, he was immediately rescued by police and given first aid.
The authorities quickly rushed the boy to the nearest hospital, where he later died. Following the incident, authorities found a pellet gun that looked like a Glock 17 pistol and had a removable magazine.
Chief Williams confirmed that this imitation firearm was eventually discovered to be a pellet gun. The police officer in question The officer who was part of the shooting has not been named to the public and has been put on paid administrative leave while an investigation is ongoing.
13-Year-Old Boy's Death Enraged Community in Utica
The event has caused much anger in the community, resulting in a tense press conference on Saturday morning. More than 100 members of the community, including Nyah Mway's family, were present at the conference held at Utica City Hall.
Strong emotions were felt as the police chief outlined the sequence of events, with numerous individuals in the crowd showing their frustration and sadness.
Utica Mayor Michael Galime urged for tranquility and guaranteed the public full openness. Galime stated that they acknowledge the importance of this situation and aim to make sure that every aspect is comprehended. The Mayor added that the shooting is now under investigation by the Attorney General's office in New York.
Utica police are currently conducting an internal investigation and will be sharing relevant materials in the upcoming days, such as a critical incident summary and complete body cam recordings.
Officials have confirmed the existence of a video of the event being shared on social media, stating that it only shows part of what happened.
Refugee Community in Utica
Utica is home to a noticeable number of refugees, with a large portion coming from different regions of Asia. The 13-year-old boy, Nyah Mway, belonged to the Karen community, which is an ethnic minority group hailing from Myanmar.
In recent years, Utica has received a significant influx of refugees, altering the demographics of the city. The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees stated that over 20% of Utica's population consists of immigrants at present.
Dr. Kathleen Davis, the interim superintendent of Utica City School District, conveyed sadness about the incident, emphasizing that the incident highlights the difficult obstacles that their community, especially the law enforcement partners, constantly work to overcome in order to keep our streets safe.
City officials have assured that transparency and objectivity will be maintained as the investigations progress.
Mayor Galime promised the community that they would be kept informed as soon as new information is obtained, recognizing the extensive and intricate process of these investigations.
Galime declared that both our office and police department will function with maximum efficiency and transparency. He also emphasized the significance of providing support to the mourning family and community amidst this challenging period.
