NYPD shooting of Nyah Mway sparks calls for justice from immigrant community

Relatives of a 13-year-old boy fatally shot by police in central New York were demanding justice as members of their Myanmar immigrant community sought to pressure local authorities into accountability.

The state attorney general was investigating the shooting of Nyah Mway, who Utica police wrestled to the ground and shot to death after a foot chase Friday.

Police, who are conducting their own investigation, released body camera video showing a young man pointing an object at them before slamming him to the ground. The object was an air gun that looked like a real firearm, police said.

As the official investigation continued, Nyah Mway's family and outraged community members demanded accountability for the death of the Myanmar-born teenager, a member of the Karen ethnic minority.

Utica residents of Karen descent planned to meet Sunday afternoon with Utica Mayor Michael P Galime, said Daniel Cribb, who works with a Karen community group. A message seeking comment was sent to the town hall.

At a vigil Saturday night, Nyah Mway's brother Lah said through an interpreter that he would not be satisfied until the officers “are put in jail.” Syracuse.com reported.

Others at the vigil questioned officials' account of the shooting.

“None of this matters,” said Kay Klo, one of those at the rally.

Police say Nyah Mway and another 13-year-old boy were arrested Friday evening because they matched descriptions of suspects in an armed robbery that occurred Thursday in the same area. One of them was also walking in the road, which is a violation of state traffic laws.

Body camera video shows an officer saying he needs to search them for weapons. Then one of the teens — identified as Nyah Mway — runs away, turns around and appears to point a black object at them.

Officers believed it was a handgun, police said, but it was later determined to be a pellet gun closely resembling a Glock 17 Gen 5 pistol. with a removable magazine. Police released an image showing the device did not have the orange stripe on the barrel that many pellet gun manufacturers have added in recent years to distinguish their products from firearms.

Officer Bryce Patterson caught up to Nyah Mway, tackled him to the ground and punched him, and as the two struggled on the ground, Officer Patrick Husnay opened fire, body camera video showed.

Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said at a news conference Saturday that the single shot struck the boy in the chest.

A video from a witness posted on Facebook also shows a police officer tackling the teen and hitting him as two other officers arrive, then a gunshot rings out while the teen is on the ground.

Husnay, Patterson and Officer Andrew Citriniti have been placed on paid administrative leave while investigations continue.

Under New York law, the attorney general's office investigates every death that occurs at the hands of law enforcement. The Utica Police Department's investigation, meanwhile, will determine whether officers followed policies and training.

The police chief called the shooting “a tragic and traumatic incident for everyone involved.”

Utica's population of 65,000 includes more than 4,200 people from Myanmar, according to The Center, a nonprofit group that helps resettle refugees.

The Karen are among the groups at war with the military rulers of Myanmar, a Southeast Asian country formerly known as Burma. The military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021 and cracked down on many nonviolent protests that sought a return to democratic rule.

Nyah Mway and her family arrived in the United States nine years ago, according to speakers at the vigil.

“This country is supposed to be a country of freedom, a country of peace,” said one of the speakers, Yadana Oo. “What is happening? Have we run from one persecutor to another?