Editor’s note: the video to which this story links is disturbing.
Police in Columbus, Ohio, released a video of a camera Tuesday night of the fatal shooting of a teenage girl earlier in the day. Interim police chief Michael Woods told a news conference that it was unusual to release videos so quickly, but “we understand the public’s need, desire and expectation to have transparency.”
Police did not identify the girl, but her family and Franklin County Children’s Services identified her as 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant. The family also told Columbus’ CBS subsidiary WBNS-TV that Bryant was the one who called police for help and said people were fighting outside her home.
Police at the press conference could not confirm who called 911. Police and city officials also referred to the victim as a 15-year-old throughout the press conference.
Woods said 911 received a call around 4:30 p.m. “The information was that a caller said a woman there was trying to stab them and put their hands on it,” Woods said. A video of the shooting was then played out and it appears that the victim appears to be attacking two other people with a knife. The officer fired his weapon several times while Bryant and another girl struggled against the side of a parked car. It was unclear what led to the altercation, which was already underway when officers arrived there.
The officers who responded to the scene, including the one who shot Bryant, were not identified.
Woods said ‘medics were called immediately’ and CPR was administered, although it was not shown in the short video. Woods said longer video will be released once it goes through the proper ‘editing process’ required by the Public Records Act.
“This is a tragedy for all involved, but especially the woman’s family,” Woods said after the video was shown.
Woods said the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting. “Once the BCI has completed its investigation, the divisional police will conduct an administrative investigation into the actions of this officer and all officers at the scene,” Woods said.
The officer who killed Bryant will be “removed from the street” while the shooting is being investigated, Woods said. He also said that the decision whether the officer violates any policy will come after the criminal investigation is completed and sent to a grand jury.
Andrew Ginther, mayor of Columbus, called the shooting a “horrific, heartbreaking situation” and said: “We know from this footage that the officer acted to protect another young girl in the community.”
Woods later remarked that “lethal force can be used to protect yourself or (for) the protection of a third party … Whether or not complying with it will be part of the investigation.”
“We think it’s critical to share as much information as possible as quickly as possible,” Ginther said. “We will therefore continue to share footage and other information during the hours and days ahead.”
The mayor also asked that anyone have more information about what happened before the shooting incident, “to share the information with the appropriate authorities.”
Director of Public Safety Ned Pettus Jr. said: “My heart breaks for the family. No matter what the circumstances are, the family is in pain and they are in my prayers. They deserve answers. Our city deserves answers. “
However, he stresses that ‘quick, quick answers can not cost the cost of accurate answers.’
Bryant’s mother, Paula Bryant, told WBNS she was “very upset. I’m hurt. I want answers.”
“My daughter sent Columbus police for protection, not to be a murder today,” Paula said with tears in her eyes.
Ma’Khia lived in a foster home. Paula said the two last saw each other Thursday. “We hugged each other. She said, ‘Mom, I did an honor roll.’ She said, ‘Mommy, I’m looking forward to coming home,’ ‘Paula said.
“Ma’Khia had a motherly disposition about her. She promoted peace. It’s something I always want to remember,” Paula added.
Shortly after the shooting, which took place around the same time that the verdict was announced at the trial of Derek Chauvin, protesters gathered at the shooting scene and at downtown Columbus headquarters.
Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, who heads the Black Caucus of Congress and whose district includes parts of Columbus, tweeted that she ‘speaks with a total loss of words about the tragic murder of the 16-year-old Ma’khia Bryant by Columbus Police. My prayers are with her family and friends. Our community has hurt, experienced too much sadness and deserves better. ‘
– Brian Dakss reported.