Utica, New York, police fatally shoot 13-year-old Nyah Mway

“While a stop like this is routine, it turned tragic in a matter of moments,” Mayor Michael Galime (R) said at a news conference Saturday.

New York state law requires the attorney general's office to investigate all cases where a police officer may have caused a death.

Police identified the officer who fired his weapon Friday as Patrick Husnay, a six-year veteran of the department, and said Officers Andrew Citriniti and Bryce Patterson were also present. All three were on paid leave Saturday, Williams said.

The killing has outraged members of the Utica community — about 50 miles east of Syracuse — where Nyah's family and friends gathered for a vigil in her honor Saturday night. Attempts to reach Nyah's family were unsuccessful Sunday night.

The incident began around 10:18 p.m. Friday, when officers arrested Nyah and another 13-year-old boy because they matched the descriptions of the robbery suspects, police said. Nyah was on foot, and the other teen, who authorities have not publicly identified, was on a bicycle, body camera footage shows.

Just after an officer tells Nyah they're going to search him to confirm he doesn't have any weapons, he begins to run away, the video shows.

The police chase him, according to the images. At one point, the video shows Nyah turning toward the officers while holding what appears to be a gun. A police officer can be heard shouting: “I have a gun!”

Police then pin Nyah to the ground as an officer yells, “Get off me!” One of the officers fires a shot, hitting the teen, the video shows.

Nyah was taken to a hospital, where he died, police said.

What officers thought was a real gun in his hand turned out to be a replica of a Glock 17 pistol, Police Chief Mark Williams said at the news conference.

On a fundraising page, Nyah’s family wrote that she moved to the United States nine years ago as a refugee from Myanmar. They described Nyah as an “outgoing kid” who loved riding his bike and spending time with family and friends. He had graduated from high school two days before the shooting.

NOW, family wrote, they “would never see him grow up.”

Lay Htoo, one of Nyah's cousins, told The Associated Press that the family was seeking a quiet life away from the violence in Myanmar.

“We ultimately came to the United States to get an education and get good jobs here,” he said.

The anguish over the killing was evident at Saturday's news conference, where community members shouted as Williams described the shooting.

“I know there are a lot of emotions in this room, a lot of people upset, but you're asking us to be transparent,” Williams said. “And when you yell at us, it makes it very difficult. »

Galime intervened to call for order, saying officials intended to speak directly and privately to Nyah's family afterward. Audience members continued to speak loudly as officials wrapped up the event.

About a minute before the end, someone in the audience shouted, “We don't trust you anymore.”