The Tragic Consequences of a Misguided Police Interaction: The Story of Nyah Mway

In upstate New York, a tragic incident occurred when a 13-year-old boy named Nyah Mway was shot by an officer in Utica. The police reported that he was carrying a compressed air pistol at the time of the shooting. The incident occurred on Friday night around 10:20 p.m., while the boy and another minor were stopped by officers while walking down the street.

A video that circulated on social media showed the boy running down a dark street while being chased by three police officers. One of the officers managed to knock him down, and others joined in as onlookers criticized their actions. Despite their protests, the boy died at Wynn Hospital due to the severity of his chest wound.

During a press conference called by authorities to explain the incident, around 50 members of Nyah’s family attended and protested against police violence. Utica Police Chief Mark Williams explained that the boy pulled out what appeared to be a Glock pistol during the chase, which later turned out to be a compressed air pistol. He also stated that three officers involved in the incident have been suspended from employment without pay and an internal investigation is underway.

The mayor of Utica, Michael Galime, also attended the press conference and described it as a routine search that quickly led to tragedy. He promised to release body camera footage worn by the officers involved in order to bring more transparency into this matter.