The city of Utica is grappling with a tragic incident following the release of body camera footage by the Utica Police Department that captured the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Nyah Mway. The distressing event unfolded on June 28, casting a somber light over community-police relations and sparking intense public scrutiny.
The incident began when Utica Police officers, part of the Crime Prevention Unit, responded to a situation on the 900 block of Shaw Street involving Mway and another juvenile. The released footage, offering multiple angles, details a rapidly escalating encounter that culminated in the tragic shooting. According to the police, Mway, in a critical moment, displayed what appeared to be a handgun and pointed it at the officers, prompting an immediate response.
Officer Patrick Husnay, a six-year veteran of the Utica Police Department, was identified as the officer who discharged his weapon, striking the young Mway. Accompanying him were officers Bryce Patterson and Andrew Citriniti, the former with four years of experience and the latter a two-and-a-half-year veteran who had previously served with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.
In the aftermath of the shooting, officers recovered a replica GLOCK 17 Gen 5 handgun with a detachable magazine. This discovery adds a layer of complexity to the incident, highlighting the challenges police face in making split-second decisions under pressure, particularly when distinguishing real threats from those that are not immediately clear.
The community response has been one of profound grief and frustration. Many have expressed outrage and heartbreak over the loss of such a young life, questioning the circumstances that led to such a fatal outcome and calling for a thorough investigation into the practices of local law enforcement. The incident has intensified ongoing conversations about police training, particularly in crisis intervention and the use of force, as well as the broader issue of how law enforcement engages with youth.
The Utica Police Department, in releasing the footage, stated its commitment to transparency and accountability in the handling of this incident. However, the footage has done little to quell the community’s demand for justice and a reevaluation of policing strategies, especially those involving engagements with minors.
This tragic event has prompted calls from community leaders and activists for immediate and substantive changes to police training and engagement policies. There is a growing consensus that measures need to be implemented to prevent such occurrences in the future, including better training for officers in de-escalation techniques and the use of non-lethal alternatives.
The shooting of Nyah Mway has also opened up broader discussions on the presence of replica firearms in the community. Educators, parents, and law enforcement officials are calling for increased awareness and potentially new regulations regarding the manufacture, sale, and possession of these items to prevent future tragedies.
As the investigation continues, the community of Utica remains in mourning, reflecting on the circumstances that led to the loss of a young life and seeking paths forward that ensure greater safety and understanding between the police and the communities they serve. The hope is that from this tragic incident, meaningful dialogue and reform can emerge that will lead to substantive improvements in community-police relations and prevent such occurrences in the future.
