Asian Obituary, Death; – The police in Utica, N.Y., reported that a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed by an officer after a foot chase on Friday night. The boy, identified as Asian by the police, was one of two juveniles stopped by the Utica Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit around 10:18 p.m. According to the police, the 13-year-old fled and brandished what seemed to be a handgun.
Following a struggle on the ground, a police officer fired his weapon once, hitting the male, stated Chief of Police Mark Williams during a news conference on Saturday. The boy was transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Subsequently, officers found a replica of a Glock 17 Gen5 handgun with a detachable magazine, which was later confirmed to be a pellet gun by Chief Williams. The boys were stopped as part of an ongoing police investigation, although further details were not provided.
Mayor Michael P. Galime of Utica expressed his dismay at the incident, stating that such occurrences have become too common. The news conference was attended by numerous residents, who expressed their anger and frustration, particularly when Chief Williams mentioned the boy’s actions with the gun. Amidst the growing tension, Chief Williams allowed Mr. Galime to address the crowd in an attempt to pacify them.
Despite Chief Williams providing a timeline of the events and responding to inquiries from journalists, community members repeatedly voiced their discontent. Chief Williams acknowledged the charged atmosphere, emphasizing the importance of transparency while urging for respectful dialogue. Eventually, Mr. Galime concluded the news conference due to the ongoing disruptions and announced plans to meet with the boy’s family directly. Videos circulating online seemed to corroborate…
