A community of Southeast Asians living in upstate New York is looking for answers and justice after police badly shot a 13-year-old emigrant who supposedly pointed a replica gun at officers.
Utica Community Unites in Grief and Anger After Teenager's Death
Members of the Karen ethnic minority in Utica, New York, situated about 55 miles east of Syracuse, have come together in animosity and grief since the teenager's passing on Friday night.
The Karens are among the groups in combat with Myanmar's military rulers, the Southeast Asian nation previously known as Burma.
Before being shot, Nyah Mway was grappled to the ground after a chase by police, who reported he was one of two youths stopped in connection with an armed robbery investigation.
Police indicated Nyah Mway matched the description of a suspect involved in the robbery. As officers frisked him, he fled and allegedly aimed a replica gun at them, officials stated.
On Monday, LuPway Doh, a leader in the Karen community in Utica, asserted that there is no valid rationale for the incident. "We have many unanswered questions, particularly why the youths were stopped and why lethal force was deemed necessary."
Doh emphasized that the community demands to know if the teenagers were racially profiled during the stop and whether excessive force was used by the police.
Police released body camera footage on Saturday, showing an officer stating the need to pat down the juveniles for weapons. Immediately after, Nyah, identified by police, fled.
Officials froze frames from the video showing Nyah running and appearing to aim the replica gun at pursuing officers. Police edited the video, highlighting the replica weapon with a red circle for clarity. The replica was identified by police as a Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun with a detachable magazine.
A bystander's Facebook video depicts an officer pursuing and tackling Nyah to the ground, with two additional officers arriving. A gunshot is heard while Nyah is on the ground.
Police indicated that the teenagers fit the descriptions of robbery suspects and were near the location of the incident. One teen was also walking in violation of state traffic laws.
According to a GoFundMe page for Nyah's family, he had recently completed the eighth grade and was returning home from a barbecue when stopped by police.
Nyah's sister expressed on the fundraising page that he had a clean record with law enforcement and was a well-behaved child. She questioned the discrepancies between the body camera footage, witness statements, and the information provided to her family, particularly regarding the mention of a shootout with her non-English-speaking parents.
She emphasized the need for explanations, noting that a police officer was heard questioning why shots were fired in the body camera footage. Nyah's parents and siblings are devastated, as shared on the GoFundMe page.
Nyah enjoyed spending time outdoors, biking, and playing with friends and family. The family explained that their ancestors fled war and oppressive military regimes to escape persecution by American law enforcement.
Utica Police Spokesperson Clarification on Communication Regarding Incident
A Utica police spokesperson clarified on Monday that officials "do not believe the family was ever informed that there was a shootout. There may have been a misunderstanding in translation, but we would not have said that." The spokesperson added that no further information was available as of Monday.
Utica, with a population of approximately 65,000, is home to over 4,200 people from Myanmar, according to The Center, a nonprofit assisting refugee resettlement.
Doh estimates the actual number closer to 8,000 or 9,000, noting that many in the Karen community fled Myanmar to escape oppression, making Nyah's death particularly painful.
"It brings back a lot of traumas that we don't even want to talk about, but unfortunately we have to relive them," Doh said. "Many parents, many older adults who experienced trauma in their homeland are now traumatized again, having to tell their kids that they could be killed by police when they go out."
Since the shooting, Karens have protested multiple times at City Hall, Doh reported, each gathering drawing more than 100 demonstrators.
Nyah's grieving mother attended a protest on Saturday during a City Hall news conference with Mayor Michael Galime and Police Chief Mark Williams, where she screamed and cried loudly.
Galime acknowledged the heart-wrenching response, stating it should be met with the understanding it deserves.
At the news conference, Williams highlighted the split-second decisions officers often face in chaotic and evolving situations. He mentioned that our officers frequently face fast-changing and chaotic situations, requiring swift decisions. They react to threats of deadly force by using deadly force, regardless of whether the weapon is genuine or a replica handgun.
State Attorney General Letitia James announced on Saturday that her office's prosecutors are investigating Nyah's death.
On Sunday, Galime met with the community at Tabernacle Baptist Church to field further questions about the shooting. He emphasized the importance of his attendance to gain insight from residents.
Mayor Galime expressed the importance of observing, sensing, and comprehending the community's experience beyond just their initial reaction.
Related Article: Family of 13-Year-Old Boy Shot by Police in New York Demands Justice
