NEW YORK, USA: On Friday night in Utica, New York, 13-year-old Nyah Mway, originally from Myanmar, was fatally shot by police after allegedly pointing a BB gun at officers during a pursuit.
The incident occurred as Nyah and another teenager were stopped for fitting descriptions related to an armed robbery. Body camera footage showed Nyah fleeing and then being tackled by an officer, Bryce Patterson, who punched him. During the struggle, Officer Patrick Husnay fired a single shot, fatally hitting Nyah in the chest.
Nyah’s family, part of Utica’s Karen ethnic minority community, is devastated. They moved to the United States seeking safety and opportunity after fleeing Myanmar’s unrest two decades ago. The community and Nyah’s relatives are demanding justice and accountability, meeting with Utica Mayor Michael P. Galime to discuss the tragic event. The police department, under investigation by the state attorney general, insists the shooting was in response to what appeared to be a genuine threat, though subsequent investigation revealed the BB gun lacked markings distinguishing it from a real firearm.
The shooting has sparked calls for better police training and scrutiny of department policies regarding use of force, particularly against minors. Nyah’s cousin, Isabella Moo, criticized the police response as excessive and called for reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future. The family, now grieving Nyah’s untimely death, seeks answers and justice through legal channels while grappling with the profound loss of a young life cut short.
