Utica, NY — A police encounter in Utia, New York escalated tragically when a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed by an officer after he reportedly pointed a replica firearm at police. The incident occurred late on a Friday evening, resulting from a stop involving two youths under suspicion of involvement in a recent armed robbery.
The confrontation started when officers, recognizing that the boys matched the descriptions of suspects from a previous crime, approached them for questioning. One of the teenagers, identified as Nyah Mway, fled the scene, leading to a chase captured on police body cameras. During the pursuit, Mway allegedly brandished what appeared to police as a handgun, which was later identified as a replica Glock 17 Gen 5.
The chase ended dramatically when an officer tackled Mway. During the ensuing struggle on the ground, body camera footage shows the chaotic moments leading up to one officer, identified as Patrick Husnay, discharging his firearm once, hitting Mway in the chest. Despite immediate first aid efforts from the officers and subsequent medical attention at Wynn Hospital, Mway succumbed to his injuries.
The gun, which turned out to be a realistic-looking pellet or BB gun complete with Glock markings and a serial number, did not pose the lethal threat believed by officers at the time. The incident has stirred significant community unrest, leading the Utica Police Department to release the footage publicly in response to calls for transparency.
The three officers involved, including Husnay, a six-year veteran, have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. The body camera video also captures the intense sequence where another officer can be heard unsure if he, too, had been shot during the confusion, highlighting the tense moments of the encounter.
Following the incident, a bystander video surfaced showing additional angles of the chase and the physical altercation that preceded the shooting. This footage has added to public scrutiny and debates over police responses to perceived threats.
Utica Police Chief Mark Williams addressed the media and the public, expressing condolences to Mway’s family and describing the incident as “tragic and traumatic” for everyone involved. The community reaction has been profound, with vocal interruptions at a news conference making it difficult for city officials and interpreters to communicate effectively.
Mway, a middle school student and a refugee from Myanmar, belonged to the Karen ethnic group, which has historically faced persecution in his home country. The incident has had a significant impact on Utica’s large Myanmar refugee community, already sensitive to issues of conflict and authority due to their backgrounds.
The state attorney general’s office has announced its own investigation into the shooting to determine the justification of the use of lethal force, and the police department is also reviewing whether officers followed appropriate protocols and training.
This event underscores ongoing national debates about police methods, the use of force, and how young individuals are engaged during law enforcement operations. As investigations continue, the community and the nation await answers that could help prevent future tragedies of this nature.