Ohio police on Wednesday released another camera with a camera showing the position of an officer as he pulled out his weapon, shot and killed a 16-year-old girl after responding to a 911 call in Columbus .
The body-carrying camera of Nick Reardon’s police officer showed how he arrived at a report late Tuesday afternoon.
Reardon drew his weapon as the quarrel unfolded.
Police earlier said the video showed someone trying to stab one person to the ground as well as a second person.
During the altercation, a person wearing a black T-shirt is seen with an object in her right hand that she lifts up to a second person before Reardon shoots.
Ma’Khia Bryant, 16, was identified as the girl who shot dead police.
Police picked up a knife near the girl’s body and heard a camera officer say, “She has a knife, she just went to her.”
A union representative representing police in Columbus could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Franklin County Children’s Services confirmed Tuesday night that Bryant was in the foster care system.
“This is a tragedy, there is no other way to say it,” interim police chief Michael Woods told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s a 16-year-old girl.”
The case is being handled by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Columbus authorities have said they will be limited in their comments about the shooting. Woods said the department’s policy allows officers to shoot if they believe someone’s life is in danger.
“I can not respond specifically to this particular incident,” Woods said. “But what I can say is that when officers are dealing with someone who uses lethal force, lethal force can be the reaction that the officer gives.”
Don Bryant, a cousin of Bryant’s mother, said police have more options than making fire.
“I know there are deconstruction tactics that could have been used. You killed a teenage girl who could have been avoided,” he told NBC News.
“I’m seriously asking the Columbus Police Department what’s going on. I’m a supporter of our police, but what’s going on here? What’s going on that we should be so happy these days? And here’s what I do not want to do … is “This whole issue of Blue Lives versus Black Lives Matter. Listen here, there is loss of life, and you have a sad mother who is just sad.”
The director of the department of public safety, Ned Pettus Jr., said at a press conference on Wednesday that the footage of the meeting raises questions.
“The video shows that there is more to this. It requires us to stand still, take a closer look at the sequence of events, and although it is not easy, wait for the facts as determined by an independent investigation,” Pettus said.
“We have to ask ourselves, what information did the officer have? What did he see? How much time did he have to assess the situation? And what would have happened if he had not acted at all?”
It was not clear if the officer gave any warning or instructions before Bryant was shot dead. Woods said the officer should not have been warned.
“We’re trying, but it’s not a policy requirement that you shout your intent to fire your weapon,” Woods said. “If there is time and opportunity, yes, we try to include it. But it is not a requirement if that time and opportunity is not there.”
Police also released two 911 calls for the disturbance, although it was not clear who made the calls, or whether Bryant was a caller.
The girl’s aunt, Hazel Bryant, said the 16-year-old acted in self-defense.
“My cousin defended herself,” the aunt told NBC News. “It was adults, mature women. It looked like it was a child, it was no child. It was women attacking my niece and she was defending herself. I’m angry now.”
The first 911 call was made at 16:32 and officers were only sent at 4:35. Woods said he did not know why it took three minutes to send the police and whether it might have been a reasonable delay.
“So what cars are available? It gives preference to cars,” Woods said. “Once a car is available, it will be shipped.”
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine pleads for the public’s patience.
“We all want things right away, I definitely want to do that,” he said. “Let an impartial body look at it, I have full confidence that it will be done in this case and that is what we must all wait for.”
Elisha Fieldstadt contributed.