The loved ones of a 13-year-old boy who was fatally shot by police in central New York on Friday are calling for justice and accountability.
The shooting of Nyah Mway, a member of Myanmar’s Karen ethnic minority, is currently being investigated by the office of New York Attorney General, Letitia James. According to Utica police, the teen was chased on foot and tackled to the ground before being shot.
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In their own investigation, the police have shared body camera footage that depicts a young person seemingly pointing an object at them before they subdued him. According to the police, the object in question was a BB gun that resembled a real firearm.
As the official investigations were underway, Nyah Mway’s family and members of the community were demanding that someone be held accountable for the death of the teenager. The outrage was palpable and the calls for justice were only growing stronger.
In a phone interview with the Associated Press, Lay Htoo, who identified himself as one of Nyah’s cousins, shared that they came to the United States with the hopes of getting an education and finding good jobs. After experiencing decades of strife and violence in Myanmar, they were looking forward to a peaceful life here.
The officers’ fate was uncertain, and the parents of the teen were eagerly waiting for the medical examiners to release their son’s body.
According to the cousin, the desire is for the individuals to be incarcerated indefinitely.
During a vigil held on Saturday evening, Lah, Nyah Mway’s brother, expressed his dissatisfaction through an interpreter, stating that he would not be content until the officers who were involved in the incident are imprisoned, as reported by Syracuse.com.
Some individuals present at the vigil voiced their doubts regarding the officials’ explanation of the shooting.
During the gathering, Kay Klo expressed her confusion by stating, “None of it adds up.”
Police officials reported that Nyah Mway and another 13-year-old boy were stopped on Friday night on suspicion of being involved in an armed robbery that had taken place the day before in the same locality. The police stated that the boys were stopped because they matched the descriptions of the suspects. Additionally, one of the boys was walking on the road, which is considered a violation of state traffic laws.
As captured in the body camera footage, the officer stated his intention to conduct a pat-down search for weapons. During the questioning of the teenagers, Nyah Mway, who was later identified as one of the individuals, fled the scene. He then turned around and seemed to aim a black object at the officers.
The young adult succumbed to his injuries and passed away at Wynn Hospital.
According to authorities, the young boy was found holding what appeared to be a Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun with a detachable magazine, but was later discovered to be a BB or pellet gun. The device closely resembled a real firearm, with no orange band on the barrel to distinguish it as a non-lethal product, a feature that many BB gun manufacturers have added in recent years. A picture released by the police depicted the striking similarities between the two items.
The police have released a statement acknowledging the existence of a video of the incident that is circulating on social media platforms. However, they have pointed out that the video does not depict the entire incident.
As the investigations move forward, Husnay, Patterson, and Officer Andrew Citriniti have been put on paid administrative leave.
In accordance with New York law, the attorney general’s office is responsible for investigating all deaths that occur at the hands of law enforcement. On the other hand, the Utica Police Department will conduct an investigation to determine whether officers followed proper policies and training.
“The shooting was a tragic and traumatic incident for all involved,” expressed the police chief.
Isabella Moo, Nyah’s cousin, believed that the police were attempting to further incriminate Nyah and shield themselves with their version of events.
During a phone interview with the AP, she expressed her opinion that the escalation of the situation should not have occurred, and that the police officers involved should receive better or different training. She firmly believes that the city should take responsibility for the incident and that no child should have to go through what happened.
According to The Center, a nonprofit organization that aids in the resettlement of refugees, Utica has a population of 65,000, with over 4,200 individuals hailing from Myanmar.
One of the many groups that are in conflict with the military rulers of Myanmar, which was previously called Burma, are the Karens. Following the overthrow of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, the army has been suppressing peaceful protests that aim to restore democratic rule.
According to Htoo, Nyah’s family escaped from Myanmar and sought refuge in Thailand around twenty years ago. It was there that Nyah was born in a refugee camp, before eventually moving to the United States through a resettlement program approximately nine years ago. Currently, Nyah’s father works at a convenience store to support the family.
According to Htoo, his cousin Nyah had a strong passion for mathematics, soccer, and socializing with friends. When he wasn’t taking care of his younger siblings, he would often be found pursuing these interests. Despite being raised in a Buddhist family, Nyah had a thirst for knowledge and would occasionally attend Bible study sessions with his friends.
According to the cousin, the boy had informed his mother on Friday night that he was going to a store to purchase something, and that was the last time she had seen him.
According to him, she has not slept soundly since then, only taking brief 10-minute naps. Each time she wakes up, her tears start flowing again.
