An upstate New York police officer shot and killed a 13-year-old boy who was running with a “realistic gun,” authorities said Saturday.
Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said the shooting happened Friday night after officers stopped two young people in the city, about 150 miles northwest of Manhattan, just after 10 p.m.
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One of the boys fled on foot and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at officers, police said at a news conference at Utica City Hall, attended by members of the community, including the boy’s family.
One of the officers fired one shot, striking the boy in the chest “during a struggle on the ground,” Williams said.
The boy was given first aid “immediately” by officers and taken to Wynn Hospital, where he later died, the chief said.
Police spokesman Lt. Michael Curley confirmed late Saturday that the man has been identified as 13-year-old Nya Mway, a Myanmar-born Karen refugee and eighth-grader at Donovan Middle School.
Police are investigating the scene of a Friday night shooting that occurred in Utica, New York, early Saturday morning, June 29, 2024. Police said Saturday that an officer shot and killed a teenage boy while he was fleeing the scene, pointing a replica gun at him. (Kenny Lacy Jr./Syracuse.com via The Associated Press)
More than 4,200 people from Myanmar live in Utica, a city of more than 65,000 on the Mohawk River, according to The Center, a nonprofit organization that helps refugee resettlement.
The Karen are an ethnic minority fighting the military junta in the country formerly known as Burma, which ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021 and crushed widespread, nonviolent protests calling for a return to democratic rule.
Utica City School District Interim Superintendent Kathleen Davis offered condolences to the victim’s family in a statement posted online.
Davis expressed “deep sadness” over the “tragic and senseless loss” and also offered his support to his “law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to keep our city safe.”
Williams declined to provide details about what prompted the stop or the events leading up to the shooting, saying those were part of the investigation. He added that officers found a replica Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun with a detachable magazine at the scene.
“It is an authentic gun in every way – Glock markings, signatures, detachable magazine, serial number, etc.,” Curley said in an email when asked to describe the gun in more detail, “but at the end of the day, it only fires pellets or BBs.”
Williams said police officials plan to release a report on the incident in the coming days, along with body camera footage of the officers involved. The identity of the officer who fired his gun has not been released.
At City Hall on Saturday, people shouted at some members of the public to disrupt speeches by officials, while ethnic Karen people pleaded for quiet so they could hear interpreters translating what was being said.
Mayor Michael Galime said the city will be transparent in its investigation and that he and other officials will meet privately with the boy’s family and community members.
“We’re holding this press conference because you’re in this room,” he said, “we understand the gravity of this situation and we want you to understand every part of this. Everything will be out in the open and everyone in this room and the entire community will have access to all of that information.”
Williams said the New York attorney general’s office will lead the investigation and determine whether it was warranted. The office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday.
The police department will also conduct its own internal investigation to determine whether the officers followed policies and training, Williams said.
He added that the officers involved would be placed on paid administrative leave, in line with regulations.
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Williams said he was aware that video of the incident was circulating on social media, but warned that it did not show the full story.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to the family of the person who lost their life at this difficult time,” he said. “This is a tragic and traumatic incident for all involved.”
