Police fatally shoot 13-year-old armed with replica handgun in upstate New York

In a tragic incident in Utica, upstate New York, a 13-year-old boy named Nyah Mway was fatally shot by a police officer after he ran from the police and pointed a replica handgun at them. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Friday after officers stopped two youths in connection with an armed robbery investigation. Despite believing it was a real handgun, it was later revealed to be a replica Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun that only fired pellets or BB's. The officer, identified as Patrick Husnay, fired a single shot during a struggle with Nyah, hitting him in the chest. The body camera footage and bystander video show the chaotic scene where Nyah was tackled to the ground and punched by the officer before being shot. The incident sparked outrage in the community, with many questioning the use of force against a 13-year-old. The police chief, Mark Williams, stated that the officers were responding to recent robberies involving Asian males brandishing firearms, leading to heightened tensions in the area. Nyah Mway, a refugee from Myanmar and a member of the Karen ethnic minority, was a student at Donovan Middle School. The incident has shed light on the challenges faced by the diverse community in Utica, where a significant portion of the population is foreign-born. The tragic event serves as a reminder of the complexities faced by law enforcement in ensuring public safety while navigating cultural diversity and potential language barriers. The police department released body camera footage and a photo of the replica handgun recovered at the scene to provide transparency in the investigation. The community, including the Utica City School District, expressed condolences for the loss and emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to address the safety and well-being of all residents, particularly in a city with a growing immigrant population. The incident has raised important questions about police procedures, use of force, and the challenges of policing in a diverse and multicultural community.