Police release body camera footage of teen's fatal shooting, family demands accountability

UTICA, N.Y. (WSYR) — Police in Utica, New York, have released body-worn camera footage that appears to show a teenager pointing an object at them seconds before he was wrestled to the ground and fatally shot. Now the boy's family is demanding justice.

Shortly after 10 p.m. ET Friday, Utica police arrested two 13-year-old boys because they matched the description of a pair of suspects wanted in two recent robberies in the West Utica area, according to a department spokesperson. Officers also noted that one of the teens was walking in the roadway, which is a violation of state traffic laws.

“The suspects were described as Asian males who were brandishing a black firearm and were demanding force and stealing property from the victims,” ​​police said, “…one on foot and the other on a bicycle.”

Uniformed body camera footage shows a police officer asking if he can search the teenagers for weapons. Nyah Mway is then seen running away from the officers, who chase him.

The footage, some of which can be seen in the video player below, then shows Mway apparently pointing an object at the officers.

“A gun! I have a gun!” a police officer can be heard shouting as he chases Mway.

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.

Officers called for help and administered first aid before an ambulance arrived. Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said at a news conference Saturday that the young man was shot in the chest.

In addition to the video, police released photos, shown below, that show the gun found near Mway's body. Police have since determined it was a Glock air pistol.

“We will cooperate fully with the attorney general's office,” Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said Saturday morning. “It will be up to them to decide whether or not the shooting is justified.”

Three officers involved — Bryce Patterson, Andrew Citriniti and Patrick Husnay, who fired the shot — are on paid administrative leave, a department policy after an officer-involved shooting.

Under New York state law, the attorney general's office investigates every death involving law enforcement. The Utica Police Department's investigation, meanwhile, will examine whether officers followed policies and training.

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

Family, community demand accountability after shooting

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

Utica residents of Karen descent are scheduled to meet Sunday afternoon with Utica Mayor Michael P. Galime, said Daniel Cribb, who works with a Karen community group. A message seeking comment has been sent to the mayor's office.

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.

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

Others at the vigil questioned the official account of the shooting.

“None of this makes sense,” said Kay Klo, one of those present at the meeting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report..