Relatives of a 13-year-old boy shot and killed by police in central New York demanded justice as members of their immigrant community from Myanmar tried Sunday to pressure local officials for accountability.
The attorney general was investigating the shooting of Nyah Mway, who was knocked to the ground by Utica police and then shot Friday after a foot chase.
Police, who are conducting their own investigation, released body camera video showing a juvenile appearing to point an object at them before they took him to the ground. The item was a BB gun that looked like a real firearm, police said.
While the official investigation was underway, Nyah Mway’s family and outraged community members demanded accountability for the death of the teenager, who was born in Myanmar and is a member of the Myanmar community. Karen ethnic minority.
Utica residents of Karen descent had planned to meet with Utica Mayor Michael P. Galime on Sunday afternoon, said Daniel Cribb, who works with a Karen community group. A message seeking comment was sent to the mayor’s office.
At a vigil on Saturday evening, Nyah Mway’s brother Lah said through an interpreter that he would not be satisfied until the officers are “in jail”, Syracuse.com reports.
Others at the vigil questioned officials’ account of the shooting.
“It’s not right at all,” said Kay Klo, one of those present.
According to police, Nyah Mway and another 13-year-old boy were arrested Friday night because they matched descriptions of suspects in an armed robbery that occurred in the same area on Thursday. One was also walking on the street, a violation of the state traffic law.
The bodycam video shows an officer telling them to frisk them for weapons. Then one of the teens — identified as Nyah Mway — runs away, turns and appears to point a black object at them.
Officers thought it was a handgun, police said, but it was later determined to be a BB or air rifle that strongly resembled a Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun with a detachable magazine. Police released an image showing the device did not have the orange band on the barrel that many BB gun makers have added in recent years to distinguish their products from firearms.
Officer Bryce Patterson caught up to Nyah Mway, tackled and punched him, and as the two struggled on the ground, Officer Patrick Husnay opened fire, according to body camera footage. Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said at a news conference Saturday that the single shot struck the young man in the chest.
A bystander video posted to Facebook also showed an officer tackling the teen and punching him as two other officers arrived, before a gunshot rang out as the teen lay on the ground.
Husnay, Patterson and Officer Andrew Citriniti have been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.
Under New York law, the attorney general’s office investigates every law enforcement death. The Utica Police Department investigation, meanwhile, will examine whether officers followed policies and training.
The police chief called the shooting “a tragic and traumatic incident for all involved.”
Utica’s 65,000 residents include more than 4,200 people from Myanmar, according to The Centera non-profit organization that helps resettle refugees.
Karens are among the groups at war with the military rulers of Myanmar, the Southeast Asian country formerly known as Burma. The military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests seeking a return to democratic rule.
Nyah Mway and his family came to the United States nine years ago, according to speakers at the vigil.
“This country should be a country of freedom, a country of peace,” said one speaker, Yadana Oo. “What is going on? Have we run from one persecutor to another?”