COLUMBUS — The teen shot and killed by a Columbus police officer as she held a knife during a fight outside a home previously was a student at Trotwood-Madison Local Schools, the district’s Superintendent Reva Cosby said.
Ma’Khia Bryant, 16, was shot by Columbus police officer Nicholas Reardon Tuesday afternoon.
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Body camera footage was released by Columbus police after the shooting happened.
Authorities said Reardon was working a one-officer car when he responded to 911 calls made about a fight outside a home in Columbus. Video released Tuesday by police showed Reardon arriving to the scene, pulling out his gun and firing four shots at Ma’Khia. At the time, she appeared to have a knife in one of her hands.
“She had a knife,” Reardon can be heard saying in the video.
Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus urged people to exercise patience as the investigation into Tuesday’s deadly police shooting continues.
“I understand the outrage and emotion around this incident. A teenage girl is dead. And she’s dead at the hands of a police officer. Under any circumstances, that is a horrendous tragedy,” Pettus said Wednesday at a news conference. “But the video shows that there’s more to this. It requires us to pause, take a look at the sequence of events, and though it’s not easy, wait for the facts as determined by an independent investigation.”
Bryant was a foster child under the care of Franklin County Children Services, according to a news release, WBNS reported. Montgomery County Children’s Services declined to acknowledge whether Bryant was ever in foster care locally while she attended Trotwood-Madison schools.
“State law requires child welfare records be confidential so whether or not this child was ever in foster care cannot be disclosed,” a statement from Montgomery County officials read.
Two 911 calls were made around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. One of the calls had a female asking for police to respond to the house.
“We’ve got these grown girls over here trying to fight us, trying to stab us, trying to put their hands on our grandma,” the female caller said. “We need a police officer here now.”
A second 911 caller quickly notices police already at the home and hangs up the phone.
Ma’Khia Bryant’s mother Paula Bryant spoke with WBNS after the deadly shooting.
“I’m very upset, I’m hurt. I want answers,” Paula said.
Interim Columbus Police Chief Mike Woods was emotional as he discussed the shooting during a Wednesday news conference.
“It’s a tragedy. There’s no other way to say it. It’s a 16-year-old girl,” Woods said.
Woods said if there is an active assault going on and someone could lose their life, then the officer can use their gun to protect that third person, WBNS reported.
“I’m a father. Her family is grieving regardless of the circumstances associated with this. A 16-year-old girl lost her life yesterday. I sure as hell wish it hadn’t happened,” Woods said.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting and gathering evidence in the case.
Cox Media Group
