Officers responded to a call about an attempted stabbing when police shot the girl at around 4:45 p.m., authorities said. The person who called the emergency number said someone was trying to stab him and then hung up.
As the footage continues, the young woman threatens with the knife and the cop fires his gun. Up to four explosions can be heard.
The young woman falls to the ground next to a car, fatally injured. In the camera images of the body you see a kitchen or steak knife on the floor.
The minor was taken to a hospital, where police said her death was confirmed. It was unclear whether anyone else had been injured.
The victim was identified as 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant by a Franklin County Children’s Services spokeswoman, who said in an email that the young woman had been under the care of that department, according to The New York Times.
“Ma’Khia was a foster child in the care of Franklin County Children’s Services,” the statement said. “This was a tragic incident and FCCS remains involved with the family during this difficult time.”
Incident under independent investigation
The name of the officer involved, who authorities said was suspended from duty while the shooting is under investigation, has not been released.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation will conduct an independent investigation, which, according to local officials, is the same as any time an officer shoots someone.
State law allows police to use lethal means to protect themselves or others, and investigators will determine if that was the case, acting police chief Michael Woods told a news conference.
“This afternoon, a young woman tragically lost her life,” tweeted Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther.
“We know from these images that the agent intervened to protect another young woman in our community,” the mayor added later at a news conference.
“Whatever the circumstances, that family is in pain and it is in my prayers,” said Ned Pettus, director of public safety for the City of Columbus, during the press conference, quoted by the Times.
They celebrated the verdict and everything changed
On Tuesday evening, a crowd had gathered at the site of the murder of the young woman on Legion Lane, partially cut off by police for traffic. Others gathered outside the police station to protest a week after officers used pepper spray against a group trying to enter the building during protests that police had killed an armed man in a hospital emergency room.
Hundreds of protesters broke through the police barriers in front of the police station and approached the officers, while local authorities showed the video from the body camera inside the building. Many chanted “Say your name!” while others alluded to the victim’s age and shouted, “She was just a girl.” Cops with bicycles pushed the protesters back and threatened to use pepper spray against the crowd.
Kimberly Shepherd, 50, who has lived in the area for 17 years, told the AP that she knew the victim.
“Of course the neighborhood has undergone changes, but nothing like that,” Shepherd said of the shooting. “… This is the worst that has happened here, and unfortunately it was done by the police.”
Shepherd and his neighbor, Jayme Jones, 51, had celebrated the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin, the police officer charged with the murder of African-American George Floyd in May 2020. But the environment was rapidly changing, he said.
“We were happy with the verdict. But you couldn’t even enjoy that, ”Shepherd added. “Because while you’re being called that he’s guilty, the next call comes that this is happening near me.”
