Family members say a 16-year-old girl was fatally shot by police in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday afternoon.
The city’s mayor confirmed that a “young woman tragically lost her life,” but police remained mum on the incident hours later.
What are the details?
WBNS-TV reported that the girl shot by police was 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant, according to the girl’s mother, Paula Bryant. The incident happened around 4:30 p.m.
Paula Bryant tells me her 16 year-old daughter Ma’Khia Bryant was an honor roll student and a sweet child. Ma’Khia… https://t.co/kqEWxdS2df
— Lacey Crisp (@Lacey Crisp)1618964921.0
Mayor Andrew Ginther tweeted later:
“This afternoon a young woman tragically lost her life. We do not know all of the details. There is body-worn camera footage of the incident. We are working to review it as soon as possible. BCI is on the scene conducting an independent investigation— as they do with all CPD-involved shootings. We will share information that we can as soon as it becomes available. I’m asking for residents to remain calm and allow BCI to gather the facts.”
Earlier reports, including from The Daily Beast, cited the girl as being 15-years-old, according to a woman purporting to be the girl’s aunt.
The outlet reported that according to the woman, Hazel Bryant, Ma’Khia “called the police because someone in her house was abusing her,” and “that police saw a knife on the ground near Makiyah and shot the teenager four times.”
WSYX-TV noted that the fatal police shooting occurred just before the verdict was announced in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd.
The outlet reported that “following the shooting, a crowd gathered at the scene upset at police. Many were saying ‘enough is enough’ and were asking if the officers involved were wearing body cameras.”