Utica Police Chief details increasing problem with fake guns, prepares for AG investigation

UTICA, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — “It’s killing me that my brother isn’t here with me and my family!” Those were the words from Nyah Mway’s brother grieving at a protest held Monday morning in Utica.

The community wanting more answers as to why the 13-year-old was shot and killed by police Friday night, June 28.

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“He was in possession of a handgun,” said Utica Police Department Chief Mark Williams.

Police released body-cam video showing Mway aiming what appeared to be handgun at officers during a foot chase. The 13-year-old was tackled to the ground, where police say he still had the gun, and was shot by officers.

“There’s a bigger question that needs to be asked here,” said Chief Williams. “Why are so many juveniles either carrying real guns or simulation guns?”

You can see the pellet gun Mway was holding that night, looks like a regular handgun. Chief Williams says this is becoming more of a problem.

“This is a pellet gun that looked splitting image of a true glock handgun, and it had the word glock on it and it’s not like it was painted pink or red,” he said. “It was the same color as a regular handgun.”

And a lot of factors are going to be looked at.

“The Attorney General’s Office is going to have access to documentation, witness statements, subpoenas, things like that, in addition to records,” said Ryan McCall, a Partner at McCall Sweeney & Silva. “They are going to see everything that happened.”

While the community expresses outrage, Chief Williams is now balancing transparency with the public and making sure his officers are ok.

“I’ve been a police officer for 36 years. “I’ve seen other officers use deadly physical force. One committed suicide, and several others never came back to the job,” he said. “People don’t realize the toll it takes on police officers.”

Chief Williams says he and his department are ready for the State Attorney General’s investigation. All three officers are on paid leave. Williams adds it’s possible they will remain on leave until the investigation is over.

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