Police shoot teenager armed with replica pistol in upstate New York, authorities say

PHILIP MARCELO, Associated Press

16 mins ago

Police investigate the scene of Friday night’s shooting in Utica, N.Y., early Saturday, June 29, 2024. An officer shot and killed a fleeing teenager while aiming a replica firearm at him, police said Saturday. (Kenny Lacy Jr./Syracuse.com via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — A police officer in upstate New York shot and killed a fleeing teenager while holding a “realistic-looking firearm,” authorities said Saturday.

Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said the shooting occurred Friday night after police officers in the city, about 250 miles northwest of Manhattan, stopped two teenagers around 10:18 p.m.

One of them fled on foot and pointed a gun at officers, he said during a press conference early Saturday at Utica City Hall. Community members, including the teen’s family, were in attendance.

One of the officers fired a single shot at the teenager “during a ground struggle,” hitting him in the chest, Williams said.

The teenager, whom he described as a 13-year-old Asian boy, received “immediate” first aid from officers and was taken to Wynn Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, the police chief said.

Williams declined to provide further details about what prompted the stop or the precursors to the shooting, saying it was part of the ongoing investigation. Officers recovered a replica GLOCK 17 Gen 5 pistol with a detachable magazine at the scene, he said.

“It is a realistic looking firearm in every way, with GLOCK markings, signatures, detachable magazine and serial numbers,” Lt. Michael Curley later said in an email to The Associated Press when asked to provide more details about the weapon. “Ultimately, however, it only fires pellets or BBs.”

Williams said the department will later release the identities of the officer and the juvenile, as well as photos of the weapon. In the next few days, the department will release a report that will provide a “comprehensive overview of the events” as well as the body camera footage of the officers involved, he said.

At times, spectators shouted over the officials’ remarks and pleaded with the rest of the crowd to be quiet so that members of the Burmese community could hear the responses translated into Karen by an interpreter.

Mayor Michael Galime stressed that the city will be transparent in its investigation, adding that he and other officials will meet privately with the teen’s family and other community members to answer their questions.

“We’re holding this press conference so that all of you can be in this room,” he said. “We understand the magnitude of this situation and we want to make sure that every single part of it is understood. Everything will be made public and everyone in this room and the entire community will have access to all of this information.”

Williams said the New York State Attorney General’s office will lead the investigation into the shooting and determine whether it was justified.

Spokespeople for the office of the state’s Attorney General, Letitia James, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday.

In the meantime, the officers involved will be placed on leave with pay until further notice, as is customary in such shootings, Williams said.

The department will also conduct its own internal investigation to determine whether officers followed department policies and training, he said.

Williams said the department is also aware of a video of the incident circulating on social media, but cautioned that it does not depict the incident in its entirety.

“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased at this difficult time,” he said. “This is a tragic and traumatic incident for everyone involved.”