Investigation underway into fatal police officer-involved shooting of Utica teenager | News

UTICA, NY – Several members of the local Karen community, including the child’s mother, filled the lobby of Utica City Hall Saturday morning for a press conference about the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Nyah Mway by a Utica police officer Friday night.

“Our condolences go out to the families, the community and all of Utica,” Mayor Michael Galime said at a press conference on Saturday morning

Officials said they stopped two youths as part of an investigation. One of the youths fled.

“As he fled, the juvenile displayed what appeared to be a gun,” said Utica Police Chief Mark Williams.

Officers later determined that the weapon was a replica of a Glock, an air rifle.

Following the press conference, Mayor Galime spoke to the victim’s grieving mother.

“Whatever reaction follows an event like this, one should meet it with the understanding that it is justified,” the mayor said.

Officers offered to meet privately with the victim’s family and then moved the press conference upstairs to the mayor’s conference room, where the incident was further discussed in the context of a video circulating on social media that police say shows the incident. They also talked about the law that allows them to meet deadly physical force with deadly physical force.

“Our officers often work in very chaotic, constantly evolving situations and must make split-second decisions. However, we respond to deadly physical force with deadly physical force even when a handgun is involved, whether it is a replica or not,” said Police Chief Williams.

An independent investigation into the shooting is being conducted by the New York State Attorney General’s Office. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the completion of the state and agency investigations.