An officer in upstate New York fatally shot a 13-year-old who was running with a « realistic appearing firearm, » authorities said Saturday.
An officer in upstate New York fatally shot a 13-year-old who was running with a “realistic appearing firearm,” authorities said Saturday.
Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said the shooting happened Friday night after officers in the city about 240 miles (400 kilometers) northwest of Manhattan stopped two youths a little after 10:00 p.m.
One of them fled on foot and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the officers, he said during a news conference at Utica City Hall. Members of the community, including the youth’s family, were in attendance.
One of the officers fired a single shot at the teen “during a ground struggle,” striking in the chest, Williams said.
The teen was given “immediate” first aid by the officers and taken to Wynn Hospital, where he died, the chief said.
He was identified as Nyah Mway, a 13-year-old Karen refugee born in Myanmar and an 8th grader at Donovan Middle School, Lt. Michael Curley, a department spokesperson, confirmed later Saturday.
Utica, a city of more than 65,000 residents located along the Mohawk River, is home to more than 4,200 people from Myanmar, according to The Center, a nonprofit that helps to resettle the refugees.
Karens are an ethnic minority that are among the groups warring with the military rulers of the country formerly known as Burma.
