A 13-year-old boy carrying a “realistic appearing” replica firearm has died after being shot by police in New York state, US authorities have said.
The shooting happened after two youths were stopped by officers investigating robberies in Utica, about 240 miles northwest of Manhattan, on Friday evening.
They were approached because they “matched the robbery suspects’ descriptions”, police said.
One of them ran before pointing what appeared to be a handgun at the officers, Utica police chief Mark Williams told reporters.
Video on social media shows the boy being chased by an officer who wrestles him to the ground.
Two more officers catch up with them, after which a gunshot can be heard.
“Oh my god, he just shot him,” a bystander says.
The boy was hit in the chest after one of the officers fired a single shot at him, Mr Williams said.
The teenager – named in local reports as Nyah Mway, a refugee from Myanmar – was given first aid at the scene but later died in hospital.
Officers recovered a replica of a Glock 17 Gen 5 handgun with a detachable magazine, Mr Williams said.
The dummy had “Glock markings, signatures, a detachable magazine and serial numbers”, police spokesperson Lieutenant Michael Curley said.
It was “in all aspects a realistic-appearing firearm”, he added.
“However, ultimately, it fires only pellets or BBs,” Mr Curley said.
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Utica Police Department said its “heartfelt thoughts and prayers” were with Nyah Mway’s family.
“We will continue to be as transparent and accessible to the family and community as legally allowed as this process continues,” the department said on Facebook.
It identified the officers involved as Patrick Husnay, Bryce Patterson and Andrew Citriniti, who have been placed on administrative leave with pay.
“Officer Husnay is the officer that fired his duty weapon, striking the juvenile,” the department said.
“As will be illustrated” in body-worn camera (BWC) footage, “when the officers asked and went to pat frisk Nyah Mway he immediately fled on foot”, it added.
“While fleeing he produced a replica Glock pellet gun from the front of his body, and during the 51 and 53-second mark on officer Patterson’s BWC, points the weapon directly at Officer Patterson and the other officers,” the department said.
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During a meeting at Utica’s city hall on Saturday, its mayor Michael Galime said he understood the “weight of this situation”.
He added: “Everything will be released, and everyone in this room and the entire community will have access to all of that information.”
While some people shouted down officials’ remarks, others called for silence so that members of the boy’s community could hear an interpreter’s translations.
Mr Galime said the city would be transparent in its investigation and that he and other officials would meet privately with the teen’s family and other community members.
