A police officer in Columbus, Ohio shot and killed a teenage girl on Tuesday afternoon as she allegedly attempted to cut two females with a knife. This is according to the officials and body camera footage from the scene that has been shown to the media.
The girl was identified as 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant by her mother Paula and the Franklin County Children’s Services (FCCS).
In a statement, per CNN, the FCCS said: “Ma’Khia was a foster child, who was under the care of Franklin County Children Services.
“This was a tragic incident and FCCS is continuing its involvement with the family throughout this difficult time.”
Columbus Interim Police Chief Michael Woods said on Tuesday night that police had responded to a call at 4.32pm saying that “females were there trying to stab them and put their hands on them.”
Bodycam footage from the officers shows them approaching a group of individuals on the driveway outside a home. The video then shows one of the individuals move quickly towards another with what looks like a knife, as an officer shouts “Hey, hey, hey, hey, Get down!”
The footage shows the girl then lunge forwards towards the second with what looks like a knife. The officer shouts again “Get Down! Get down! Get down! Get down!” before firing four shots in the direction of the teenager. One officer has attended to shooting the victim, who the police are not identifying yet.
Police Chief Woods added that the officer in question has been taken off the streets by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) while an investigation takes place.
In a press conference, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said: “We know based on this footage, the officer took action to protect another young girl in our community.
“But a family is grieving tonight and this young 15-year-old girl will never be coming home.”
Of course the timing of this incident will not be missed by most, coming just as the verdict was being delivered in the trial of Derek Chauvin. Ex-cop Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd last May.
Crowds have gathered throughout the night at both the scene of the incident and in the city centre.
Meanwhile George Floyd’s family attorney Ben Crump tweeted: “As we breathed a collective sigh of relief today, a community in Columbus felt the sting of another police shooting.”
Say her name: Makiyah Bryant
Today at 3:30 pm EDT, the court in Minneapolis announced the jury had reached a verdict in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin.
At 4:45 pm EDT, police in Columbus, Ohio shot and killed 15-year-old Makiyah Bryant.
🎥 @wsyx6 Columbus pic.twitter.com/5mp0IHebaW
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 21, 2021
https://twitter.com/4TheCulture____/status/1384665305037877249
