In Utica, New York, cops shot and killed a 13-year-old boy on Friday night after he ran away and pointed a fake gun at them.
Officials from the Utica Police Department say that three officers went up to the teen victim, Nyah Mway, on Friday night because he and another 13-year-old fit the descriptions of robbery suspects.
Police were walking around the area to help with investigations into two recent robberies. According to the release, “the suspects were described as Asian males who brandished a black firearm and forcibly demanded and stole property from victims.”
It says, “Based on the listed identifying factors from the robbery, officers approached Nyah Mway and the other juvenile because they matched the robbery suspects’ descriptions and were in the area of the previous robbery at almost the same time of day.”
Police also say that Nyah Mway broke New York’s car and traffic laws by walking in the road.
Police in Utica say that when they tried to pat-frisk Nyah Mway and do a citizen stop on two 13-year-olds, “he immediately fled on foot,” according to bodycam footage that was made public.
cops say that Nyah Mway pulled out what looked like a handgun but turned out to be a fake GLOCK pellet gun while she was running away and pointed it at the cops.
United States Police Chief Mark Williams said at a news conference on Saturday that one of the cops fired his gun once and hit the teen in the chest “during a ground struggle.”
The police gave him “immediate” first aid and took him to Wynn Hospital, where Williams says he died.
The police department said that the officers who were participating were Patrick Husnay, Bryce Patterson, and Andrew Citriniti. Police say that Husnay was the cop who fired his gun and that all three are now on administrative leave with pay.