US Police Shoot 13-Year-Old Boy Holding 'Toy Gun'... "A Tragedy for All"

On the 29th (local time), local media reported that a 13-year-old Myanmar refugee boy holding a replica gun was shot and killed by police in the United States while they were trying to subdue him.

The Utica Police Department in northern New York State announced that around 10 p.m. the previous evening, during the process of restraining two youths, one 13-year-old boy was shot by a police officer and died.

Police are blocking and investigating the scene where a 13-year-old boy was fatally shot by a police officer in Utica, New York, USA, on the 29th (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the police, they were investigating an armed robbery case and stopped two 13-year-old boys who resembled the suspects to check whether they were carrying weapons.

During the check, one boy ran away and pointed an object resembling a handgun at the officers, who responded by firing their weapons. He was shot in the chest, received emergency treatment at the scene, and was transported to a hospital but died.

However, upon further investigation, the gun the boy pointed was confirmed to be a replica of a "Glock 17 5th generation pistol," not a real weapon.

Utica Police spokesperson Sergeant Michael Curley explained that the replica gun "looked real in every aspect, including the Glock markings and features, detachable magazine, and serial number," but "ultimately, it could only fire pellets or BBs."

The deceased boy was Niya Mweida, an 8th-grade student at a nearby middle school (equivalent to 2nd year of middle school in Korea). He was known to be a Karen refugee born in Myanmar.

The police are conducting an internal investigation to determine whether the officers who shot the boy followed regulations. The state attorney general plans to conduct an independent investigation to determine if the police shooting was justified.

Mark Williams, Chief of the Utica Police Department, said, "This is a tragic and shocking incident for everyone involved," and expressed his sincere condolences to the family of the deceased during this difficult time.