Columbus police released bodycam footage on Tuesday evening showing an officer shooting a 15-year-old girl earlier in the day.
The shortened video begins as the officer exits his vehicle and then encounters the teenager who appears to be armed with a knife chasing a girl outside a house.
The girl who was being chased falls on the lawn in front of the cop. The officer yells at the alleged suspect to “go downstairs,” before the teen targets another girl on the hood of a car, the video shows.
While the teenager swings the apparent weapon at the second girl, the officer fires several shots at the alleged suspect and punches her.
Police have said they were called to the house at approximately 4:45 PM on a call for an attempted stabbing.
After the gunfire, two adults remained outside. “She’s a boy, man,” you hear one of them say to the officer.
A knife with a black handle that resembles a kitchen knife can be seen in the video lying on the sidewalk next to the girl.
Police did not identify the teen, but family members told 10TV she was Ma’Khia Bryant.
Bryant’s aunt told The Columbus Dispatch that Bryant was living in foster care.
The shooting, which took place shortly after Minneapolis agent Derek Chauvin was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd, sparked protests in the city.
The officer who fired the deadly shoots has not been identified. But he has been taken off the street pending an investigation, Interim Police Commissioner Michael Woods said at a news conference Tuesday night.
It was not immediately clear whether the two other girls who were attacked had been injured.
Woods said that in the interest of transparency, the department quickly moved to release at least some of the bodycam footage.
State law allows police to use deadly force to protect themselves or others, and investigators will determine whether this shooting was such a case, Woods said.
Columbus mayor Andrew Ginther also addressed the media on Tuesday evening, where he appeared visibly shocked.
“It’s a tragic day in the city of Columbus. Horrible, heartbreaking situation, ”he said.
“The City of Columbus lost a 15-year-old girl today.”
“Based on these images, the officer has taken action to protect another young girl in our community,” the mayor said.
‘But tonight a family is in mourning. And this young 15-year-old girl will never come home again. “
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting, the mayor said.