Grief and anger have overwhelmed the city of Utica, NY, following the fatal shooting of Nyah Mway, a 13-year-old boy, by a police officer on Friday night. The Utica Police Department stated that the incident occurred during a foot chase between Mway and three officers, who believed they saw a handgun on Mway, according to the department's statement on Facebook. Tragically, the weapon turned out to be a pellet gun.

Mway had recently graduated from middle school, and his family described him as an outgoing child who loved being outside, biking, and playing, on a GoFundMe page set up in his memory. They stressed that he was a good kid who had never been in trouble with the law before. The family came to the United States from Myanmar eight years ago as Karen refugees, seeking refuge from ethnic and religious persecution by the Myanmar government. Utica has become home to many Karen refugees over the years.

The police officers were patrolling West Utica on Friday night to investigate a series of armed robberies in the area. The suspects were described as Asian males carrying a black firearm. Around 10 p.m., three officers stopped Mway and another 13-year-old boy, believing they matched the description of the robbery suspects. Body-camera footage released by law enforcement shows an officer attempting to pat down Mway for a possible weapon, but Mway tried to flee, and the officers gave chase.

According to the police statement, the officers believed that Mway was holding and pointing a firearm at them. In the body-camera footage, an officer can be heard yelling "Gun!" before tackling Mway. Moments later, a shot was fired, prompting screams from onlookers. Despite attempts to resuscitate him, Mway succumbed to his injuries at Wynn Hospital.

The police recovered a replica Glock 17 Gen5 handgun with a detachable magazine at the scene, which was later confirmed to be a pellet gun. The officers involved in the incident were identified as Patrick Husnay, a six-year veteran; Bryce Patterson, a four-year veteran; and Andrew Citriniti, who has served for two and a half years. All three officers have been placed on administrative leave with pay while an internal investigation is conducted. The New York State's Attorney General's Office of Special Investigations will also investigate whether the shooting violated any state laws.

The Utica police department expressed condolences to both the officers involved and the family of the deceased juvenile in a statement. Utica Mayor Michael P. Galime emphasized the importance of transparency and said that a thorough investigation would be carried out to provide answers. The community showed their support and disbelief at the situation, with hundreds gathering for a vigil in honor of Mway, bringing flowers, balloons, and candles.

The tragedy has once again highlighted the need for justice and accountability in cases of police shootings, as calls for the responsible officers to be brought to justice echoed throughout the community. The investigations into the incident will be closely monitored to ensure a fair and impartial conclusion while addressing the concerns of the grieving community.