On June 28, police in Utica, New York, shot a 13-year-old boy because he was carrying a fake gun, according to a report. People MagazineAt about 10 p.m., Police Officer Patrick Husney was patrolling an area with two other officers where “at least two” robberies had recently occurred. Based on the characteristics of the suspects in the June 27 crime, police were directed to Nyah Mwe and another boy, also 13 years old, who were “in the immediate vicinity of the previous robbery at approximately the same time,” according to a Utica Police Department release.
Both teens were attempted to be civilly stopped by officers. However, according to preliminary information, the teen fled and produced a handgun when police attempted to search him.
The press release noted, “In one of the incidents on June 27, the suspects were described as an Asian male and a dark skinned male, one on foot and the other on a bicycle. Based on the identification factors listed from the robbery, officers approached Nyah Mwe and the other juvenile because they matched the description of the robbery suspects and were in the immediate vicinity of the previous robbery at approximately the same time of day.”
It states, “When officers asked and went to search Nyah Mwe, he immediately fled on foot. While fleeing, he pulled out a replica Glock pellet gun from the front of his body, and during the 51st and 53rd second marks on Officer Patterson’s BWC, pointed the weapon directly at Officer Patterson and the other officers.”
According to authorities, Officer Husney then shot the teen with his duty gun. The 13-year-old was rushed to the hospital, however, he died from his injuries. The Utica Police Department released bodycam footage of the incident as well as photos of the pellet gun.
According to ABC NewsAll the three policemen have been sent on administrative leave. Apart from this, a condolence meeting was organized after his death. Many people including his family members attended the event.
The 13-year-old boy’s sister, Thong Oo, created a GoFundMe page to raise money for family expenses “including his funeral, legal costs to seek justice, and counseling.” She said her brother was “returning home from an 8th grade graduation barbecue” at the time of the shooting. He was a friendly kid who loved riding bikes and playing with his friends and family.
Ms. Oo said, “He has never been in trouble with law enforcement before, he was a good guy. The UPD video cameras, witness testimony, and the stories they told my family don’t match, especially when they told my parents (who don’t speak English at all) that there was a shooting. We need answers.”
According to Nyah’s sister, he had just graduated from the eighth grade two days before the tragedy. She added, “Because of this tragedy, I will never get to see him grow up. Nyah leaves behind our mother, father, and 3 siblings. Our family came to the US as refugees from Myanmar nine years ago to seek a better life safe from law enforcement killings and ethnic cleansing. Our parents and grandparents did not flee war and a corrupt military to be persecuted by the US police.”
