Furor erupts over officer’s shooting of Columbus teen
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Body camera footage from other officers released Wednesday in the fatal police shooting of Ma’Khia Bryant, a Black teenager who charged at two people with a knife, showed a chaotic scene that happened within minutes of the verdict in George Floyd’s killing and ignited outrage by many over the continued use of lethal force by police in Columbus and the U.S.
Officials with the Columbus Division of Police had released initial footage of the shooting Tuesday night just hours after it happened, which was a departure from protocol as the force faces immense scrutiny from the public following a series of recent high-profile police killings that have led to clashes. reporters Wednesday. “Her
Ma’Khia was 16 and in foster family is grieving. Regardless care with Franklin of the circumstances associated County Children’s Services with this, a 16-yearold at the time of her death. Her lost her life yesterday.” grandmother, Debra Wilcox, He added, “I sure as hell described her as a shy and wish it wouldn’t have happened.” quiet girl, who liked making hair and dance videos on White House press secretary TikTok. Jen Psaki called the Columbus
“The fact that I see what I shooting “tragic” saw on that video is not how and said President Joe Biden I know my Ma’Khia,” Ms. has been briefed on it. Wilcox told The Associated “She was a child. We’re Press on Wednesday. “I thinking of her friends and don’t know what happened family and the communities there unless she was fearful that are hurting and grieving for her life.” her loss,” Ms. Psaki said
The incident has caused in a statement. an outcry in the community The 10-second body camera and nationwide as clip begins with the officer, Ma’Khia’s killing is the second identified Wednesday as high-profile fatal shooting Nicholas Reardon, getting of a teenager by police in out of his car at a house the last month. Body camera where police had been dispatched footage released last week after someone had showed an officer shoot and called 911 saying they were kill 13-year-old Adam Toledo being physically threatened, in Chicago. Chief Woods said. It remains
“It’s a tragedy. There’s no unclear who called the police. other way to say it. It’s a 16year-old. I’m a father,” Interim The officer, who was Columbus Police hired by the force in December Chief Michael Woods told 2019, is seen taking a few
steps toward a group of people in the driveway when Ma’Khia starts swinging a knife wildly at another girl or woman, who falls backward. The officer shouts several times to get down.
Ma’Khia then charges at another girl or woman, who is pinned against a car.
From a few feet away, with people on either side of him, the officer fires four shots, and Ma’Khia slumps to the ground. A black-handled blade similar to a kitchen knife or steak knife lies on the sidewalk next to her.
A man immediately yells at the officer, “You didn’t have to shoot her! She’s just a kid, man!”
The officer responds, “She had a knife. She just went at her.”
The race of the officer wasn’t clear and he was taken off patrolling the streets for the time being.
Ma’Khia was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said. Police did not say if anyone else was injured.