Family, friends, strangers gather to mourn 13-year-old Nyah Mway, who was fatally shot by Utica officer

Utica, N.Y. — Just less than 24 hours after the 900 block of Shaw Street in Utica was filled with police and crime scene tape, hundreds of people flooded the block to remember the life of Nyah Mway.

Mway is a 13-year-old boy who was fatally shot by a Utica police officer during a struggle after a foot chase on Friday night. Police say the boy pointed what officers thought was a gun at them but it turned out to be a pellet gun.

Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said Saturday at a news conference that the boy was shot around 10:18 p.m. after police stopped two juveniles who were walking in the 900 block of Shaw Street.

As the boy was fleeing, he displayed what appeared to be a handgun, the chief said. The boy was shot in the chest during a “ground struggle,” he said. The boy died at Wynn Hospital in Utica.

Saturday night, family, friends and strangers took to the scene of the crime to talk about Nyah and ask for justice.

The boy has just this month completed 8th grade at Donovan Middle School in Utica.

Speakers at the vigil said Nyah and his family immigrated to the United States nine years ago from Burma to seek safety from wars and military and police violence.

“This country is supposed to be a country of freedom, a country of peace,” Yadana Oo said to the group of supporters. “What’s going on? Did we run from one persecutor to another?”

Members of the community showed their support by lighting candles and bringing flowers and balloons.

The streets echoed with protest chants of “No justice, no peace,” “Say his name,” “Lock ‘em up,” and more.

Friends, family and religious leaders took turns speaking in both English and Karen to express their support and discontent with the investigation.

“He says that he won’t be satisfied until the murderers are put in jail,” Nyah’s brother, Lah said through an interpreter.

Kay Klo, who was one of the leaders at the vigil, shared the brother’s confusion.

“We are here today because the stories don’t add up,” Klo said. “The story they told the family at a press conference, what the witnesses say they saw in the video. None of it adds up. The police officers need to be investigated and held accountable for their actions.”

At a news conference on Saturday morning, Utica Mayor Michael P. Galime said the Attorney General’s office would be opening and investigation into the shooting. That probe began on Saturday.

“Now my question is, how are we supposed to trust the police?” Oo said. “They said they’re here to serve and they said they’re here to serve and protect, but how can we trust them?”

Karen community leaders plan to meet Sunday to discuss what the next steps are to seek justice for Nyah.

“There will be more information coming around, actions that will be taken, but please know that we are going to need your support long after today,” Hilda Jordan told the crowd. “The ramifications, the consequences, the pain. We feel it today, but we’ll feel it so much more as the days come. Our heart is with you as a community. It could have been any one of us and we are so sorry it was one of us.”

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