Boy, 13, shot dead by New York police had replica gun, authorities say

In a tragic incident in New York, a 13-year-old boy named Nyah Mway was shot and killed by police officers who mistook a replica handgun for a real one. The incident occurred on a Friday night when officers stopped Nyah and another 13-year-old boy because they matched the descriptions of suspects wanted for recent robberies in Utica. As the officers began questioning the boys, Nyah fled on foot, prompting a chase. Utica Police Chief Mark Williams stated that during the pursuit, officers spotted what appeared to be a handgun. One officer managed to wrestle Nyah to the ground, and during the struggle, another officer fired a single shot that struck Nyah in the chest. Despite receiving first aid at the scene, Nyah later died at Wynn Hospital.

The police released several minutes of body camera footage from all the officers involved in the incident. The footage shows Nyah pointing what police believed to be a gun while running away. The officers can be heard shouting 'gun! ' to each other. However, it was later determined that the weapon was a replica of a Glock 17 that could only fire pellets or BBs. The police also released an image of the replica handgun recovered from the scene.

The three officers involved in the incident were on patrol in the West Utica area, assisting with two recent robbery investigations. In one of the incidents on June 27, two men armed with a black firearm forcibly demanded and stole property from victims. The suspects were described as an Asian male and a dark-skinned male, one traveling on foot and the other on a bicycle. Authorities stopped Nyah and the other teenager based on these identifying factors at around 10:00 PM local time. The officers involved in the shooting have been identified as Patrick Husnay, who fired the fatal shot, Bryce Patterson, and Andrew Citriniti. They have been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is being investigated by both the New York attorney general's office and Utica police.

The local community has expressed outrage over the shooting, with members heckling the Utica police chief during a press conference attended by Nyah's family. Utica Mayor Michael Galime called for calm, emphasizing the importance of understanding every aspect of the situation. The police chief and the mayor both stressed the need for a thorough investigation to ensure transparency and accountability.

The body camera footage released by the police shows the officers chasing Nyah and shouting 'gun! ' when they saw what they believed to be a real handgun. The footage also captures the moment when one officer wrestles Nyah to the ground, followed by the fatal shot fired by another officer. The police later confirmed that the weapon was a replica that could only shoot pellets or BBs. The officers involved in the shooting are currently on administrative leave as the investigation continues.