Springfield News-Sun

» Police kill Columbus teen who attacked 2 with knife,

- By Farnoush Amiri Report for America/ Associated Press

COLUMBUS — The fatal police shooting of Ma’khia Bryant, a Black teenager seen on video charging at two people with a knife, came within minutes of the verdict in George Floyd’s killing — causing outrage by some over the continued use of lethal force by Columbus police.

Officials with the Columbus Division of Police released footage of the shooting Tuesday night just hours after it happened, 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.

The girl was identified by Franklin County Children Services, which said in a release the 16-year-old Bryant was under the care of the agency at the time of her death.

The officer was identified on Wednesday as Nicholas Reardon, who joined the force in Dec. 2019.

The 10-second clip begins with Reardon getting out of his car at a house where police had been dispatched after someone called 911 saying they were being physically threatened, Interim Police Chief Michael Woods said at the news conference. Reardon takes a few steps toward a group of people in the driveway when Bryant starts swinging a knife wildly at another female, who falls backward. Reardon shouts several times to get down.

Bryant then charges at another female, who is pinned against a car.

From about ten feet away, Reardon fires four shots, and Bryant 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, who had just been kicking the first female that Bryant attacked, immediatel­y yells at Reardon, “You didn’t have to shoot her! She’s just a kid, man!” Reardon responds, “She had a knife. She just went at her.”

Reardon was placed on leave, which is standard procedure any time an officer is involved in a shooting.

Bryant was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said. It remains unclear if anyone else was injured.

Woods said state law allows police to use deadly force to protect themselves or others, and investigat­ors will determine whether this shooting was such an instance. Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigat­ion is now reviewing the killing following an agreement with the city last summer for all police shootings to be handled by the independen­t investigat­ors under Attorney General Dave Yost’s office.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther mourned the loss of the victim while defending the officer’s use of deadly force.

“We know based on this footage the officer took action to protect another young girl in our community,” he told reporters.

The shooting happened about 25 minutes before a judge read the verdict convicting former Minneapoli­s Police Officer Derek Chauvin of murder and manslaught­er in the killing of Floyd. It also took place less than 5 miles from where the funeral for Andre Hill, who was killed by another Columbus police officer in December, was held earlier this year. The officer in Hill’s case, Adam Coy, a 19-year veteran of the force, is now facing trial for murder, with the next hearing scheduled for April 28.

 ?? COLUMBUS POLICE DEPARTMENT VIA WSYX-TV ?? A teenage girl (foreground) appears to wield a knife during an altercatio­n before being shot by a police officer Tuesday in Columbus. Police shot and killed the girl.
COLUMBUS POLICE DEPARTMENT VIA WSYX-TV A teenage girl (foreground) appears to wield a knife during an altercatio­n before being shot by a police officer Tuesday in Columbus. Police shot and killed the girl.

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