Ma’Khia Bryant, 16, Shot & Killed By Columbus Police Officer, Victim Called Police For Help After Being Threatened By Older Kids

Ma’Khia Bryant, 16, Shot & Killed By Columbus Police Officer, Victim Called Police For Help After Being Threatened By Older Kids

As the nation was focused on the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial in relation to George Floyd‘s murder, 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant was gunned down by an officer of the Columbus Police Department in Ohio.

Bodycam footage of the incident was released shortly thereafter, and the officer in question is currently under standard investigation by the Columbus Police Department.

In the video of the Tuesday (April 20th) incident, an officer is seen approaching the scene of what appears to be a domestic disturbance, where Ma’Khia Bryant can be seen scuffling with two young women. One falls to the ground early on in the video, and Ma’Khia Bryant can be seen swiftly approaching the other woman with a knife in hand. The officer then lethally shot Ma’Khia.

Ma’Khia was reportedly living in a foster home at the time of her death, and family members claim that the incident stemmed from an altercation with others living in the foster home at the time. Her aunt, Hazel Bryant, also revealed that Ma’Khia herself was the one who called 9-1-1 after being threatened by “older kids,” according to NPR. 

Black Lives Matter protests sprang up within Columbus shortly after the shooting, with many troubled at the fact that this incident occurred around the same moment that many were rejoicing in the Derek Chauvin guilty verdicts. As previously reported, Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all charges (unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter) after he pinned his knee on George Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes last spring.

George Floyd, Derek Chauvin

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