A 13-year-old boy was tragically shot and killed by police in Utica, New York, earlier this week, sparking a wave of grief and questions from the community.
The incident occurred on Friday, June 28, when Officer Patrick Husnay shot Nyah Mway after the teenager allegedly brandished what appeared to be a handgun during a frisking attempt.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. when Husnay, alongside officers Bryce Patterson and Andrew Citriniti, were patrolling an area that had recently experienced at least two robberies.
Spotting Mway and another 13-year-old in the vicinity, who matched the descriptions of suspects involved in a June 27 robbery, the officers decided to conduct a citizen stop.
During the stop, as the officers attempted to frisk Mway, the teenager fled and reportedly pulled out what seemed to be a handgun.
This item was later identified as a replica GLOCK pellet gun.
According to initial police reports, Mway pointed the pellet gun directly at the officers, prompting Officer Husnay to fire his duty weapon, striking the teen.
Mway was immediately transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The Utica Police Department took the step of releasing photos of the pellet gun and bodycam footage of the incident in an effort to maintain transparency.
“Our thoughts are with our officers involved and the family of the deceased juvenile,” the department stated.
Currently, two investigations into the fatal shooting are active: one by the NYS Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigations and another by the Utica Police Department’s Professional Standards internal investigation.
The three officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave.
The department stressed the importance of transparency and a thorough investigation.
“As in any Officer Involved Shooting investigation, it is within the purview of the NYS Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigations to determine whether the shooting violated any state laws,” the release stated.
"However, we felt it prudent to ensure the entirety of the evidence we have available at this time is shared publicly – keeping with our commitment to transparency.”
The community response was swift and somber.
A vigil for Mway was held in Utica on Saturday, June 29, roughly 24 hours after the shooting.
Hundreds of people attended, including members of Mway’s family who spoke about their loss.
Thoung Oo, Mway’s sister, created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for his funeral, legal expenses to seek justice and family counseling.
In her heartfelt post, Oo described her brother as a good kid with no previous trouble with law enforcement, questioning the police's version of events.
“He was returning home from an 8th grade graduation barbecue,” Oo wrote.
“He had just graduated two days prior and was excited to start high school this fall. Now, we will never see him grow up.”
She further explained that their family moved to the United States from Myanmar nine years ago, seeking refuge from violence and hoping for a better life.
“Our family moved to America nine years ago as refugees from Myanmar to find a better life, safe from law enforcement killings and ethnic cleansing,” Oo wrote.
“My brother was an outgoing kid who loved biking and playing with his friends and family. Our parents and grandparents did not flee war and corrupt military to be persecuted by American police. This tragedy has left a void that can never be filled.”
The family’s anguish is compounded by the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Oo expressed doubt about the police account, citing discrepancies between the bodycam footage, witness testimonies, and the story police told her non-English-speaking parents.
“The UPD video cam, the witness testimonies, and the stories they told my family don't add up, especially when they told my parents (who don't speak English at all) that there was a shootout. We need answers."
The investigations by the NYS Attorney General’s Office and the Utica Police Department aim to uncover the full details of the incident, providing clarity and hopefully, justice for Nyah Mway and his grieving family.
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