The body-worn camera video released by police captured an officer saying he needed to search the boys to ensure they didn’t have any weapons in their possession.
Immediately, one of the two, identified by police as Nyah Mway, ran away. A still from the video prepared by the police appears to show Mway pointing the gun at the pursuing officers while running.
Officers ‘thought gun real’
Police also edited the video to insert a red circle around the weapon to highlight it for viewers. The officers believed it was a real handgun, police said, but it was later determined to be a replica of a Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun with a detachable magazine.
“During a ground struggle” with the teen, one of the officers fired a single shot that struck the boy in the chest, Mark Williams, chief of Utica police, said.
Mway was given “immediate” first aid by the officers and taken to Wynn Hospital, where he died, Mr Williams added.