Police in Columbus, Ohio, released more body-camera video on Wednesday showing an officer’s position as he drew his weapon, opened fire, and killed a 16-year-old girl while responding to an emergency call.
Police officer Nick Reardon’s body-worn camera captured how he arrived late Tuesday afternoon at a reported outage.
Reardon drew his weapon as the altercation unfolded, the video showed. Police have said the video shows someone trying to stab one person to the ground as well as a second person.
A person wearing a black T-shirt is seen holding an object in her right hand that she lifts towards a second person before Reardon fires.
The girl who was shot and killed by police was identified as Ma’Khia Bryant, 16.
Police picked up what appeared to be a knife near the girl’s body, and an officer was heard on camera saying, “She had a knife. She just went over to her.”
A union representative representing Columbus Police could not be immediately reached for comment on Wednesday afternoon.
Bryant was in the foster care system, Franklin County Children Services confirmed Tuesday night.
Police Chief Michael Woods, interim police chief, told reporters on Wednesday, “It’s a tragedy. There’s no other way to put it. It’s a 16-year-old girl.”
The case is being heard by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Columbus authorities said they will be limited in their comments. But Woods said department policy allows officers to shoot if someone’s life is believed to be in danger.
“I cannot comment specifically on this particular incident,” said Woods. “But what I can say is that when officers are confronted with someone using lethal force, lethal force can be the response the officer gives.”
Don Bryant, a cousin of Bryant’s mother, said the police had other options.
“I know there are de-escalation tactics that could have been used. You killed a teenage girl. That could have been avoided, ”he said.
“I’m seriously asking the Columbus police: 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 don’t. I don’t wanna … is this whole Blue Lives versus Black Lives Matter problem. Listen here, there has been a loss of life, and you have a grieving mother who is just heartbroken.”
Public Safety Director Ned Pettus Jr. said at a press conference Wednesday that video of the meeting raises questions.
“The video shows that there is more to it. It requires us to pause, look closely at the sequence of events and, while it is not easy, wait for the facts as determined by an independent investigation,” said Pettus.
“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 hadn’t taken any action at all?” he said.
It was not clear whether the officer had issued any warning or instructions before Bryant was shot. Woods said the officer would not have been required to issue a warning.
“We’re trying, but it’s not a policy requirement that you yell that you intend to fire your gun,” Woods said. “If there is time and opportunity, yes, we try to include it. But it is not a requirement if there is no time and opportunity.”
The police also sounded two alarm bells about the outage. It was not clear who had called or whether Bryant was a caller.
Hazel Bryant, the girl’s aunt, said Bryant was acting in self-defense.
“My niece was defending herself,” she said. ‘They were grown, grown women. It looked like it was a child. That was not a child. Those were women who attacked my niece and she defended herself. I’m angry now. ‘
The first emergency number was committed at 4:32 PM and the agents were not dispatched until 4:35 PM. Woods said he didn’t know why it took three minutes to send the police or if that could have been a reasonable delay.
So which cars are available? They prioritize those cars, ”Woods said. “As soon as a car is available, they will be shipped.”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine pleaded for the patience of the public.
‘We all want things right away. I sure do, ”he said. “Let an impartial body look into that. I am confident that will happen in this case, and we all have to wait for that.”
Elisha Fieldstadt contributed.