Tragic End to a New Start
Nyah Mway, a 13-year-old boy from Utica, New York, who had recently finished middle school, was fatally shot by police on Friday night. Nyah and his family moved to the city about a decade ago as refugees from Myanmar, seeking a peaceful life after years of conflict. His death has left his family and the local Karen immigrant community in shock and demanding justice.
Incident Details
According to police reports, Nyah and another 13-year-old boy were stopped by officers on Friday night because they matched the descriptions of suspects in an armed robbery and one of them was jaywalking. When officers attempted to pat them down, Nyah ran away, turned, and allegedly pointed a BB gun at the police. Officer Bryce Patterson tackled Nyah, and as they struggled on the ground, Officer Patrick Husnay fired a single shot that hit Nyah in the chest, leading to his death.
Family’s Call for Justice
Nyah’s relatives and community members are calling for accountability and justice for the young boy. His cousin, Lay Htoo, expressed the family’s grief and frustration, emphasizing that they came to the United States seeking education and safety, only to face this tragedy. “They want them to be in prison forever,” Htoo said, referring to the officers involved in the shooting.
Body Camera Footage
Body camera footage released by the police shows Nyah running away from the officers, turning, and appearing to point a black object at them, which was later identified as a BB gun resembling a Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun. The footage also shows Officer Patterson tackling and punching Nyah before Officer Husnay fired the fatal shot. A bystander video posted on Facebook captured the moment of the shooting, adding to the public outcry.
Police and Public Statements
Utica Police Chief Mark Williams described the shooting as a “tragic and traumatic incident for all involved.” The department released the body camera footage and other details to maintain transparency, as emphasized in their statement.
