White House press secretary Jen Psaki called the shooting of a teenage girl in Ohio who appeared to wield a knife “tragic” and said it will fuel the White House to continue to tackle “systemic racism” .
“Let me just say, since you gave me the opportunity, the Columbus police department’s murder of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant is tragic. She was a child,” said Psaki. “We know that police brutality disproportionately affects Black and Latino people and communities and that black women and girls, such as black men and boys, are more likely to experience police brutality.”
“We also know that there are particular vulnerabilities facing children in foster homes such as Ma’Khia,” added Psaki.
She said President Biden had been briefed on the situation.
The White House struck a strong tone in light of Derek Chauvin’s judgment and renewed protests against police brutality across the country. Psaki did not say that the girl appeared to be attacking another with a knife.
Body cameras show a young girl in Columbus attacking several people with what appeared to be a knife, after which a police officer shot her. (Columbus Police)
(Columbus Police)
COLUMBUS SHOOTING: PROTESTERS GATHER AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS AFTER TEEN KILLED BY OFFICER
“Her death, as you noted, came just as America hopes for a step forward after the traumatic and exhausting trial of Derek Chauvin and the verdict that was handed down. So our focus is on tackling systemic racism and implicit bias. and pass legislation that will bring much-needed reforms to police forces across the country, ”she continued.
Police were called to the scene at around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at a home in Columbus, Ohio, based on a report from someone attempting to stab others.
As soon as the police stopped, a young female can be seen tackling another female on the ground with what appeared to be a knife in her hand. The girl can then be seen running to another female nearby who was wedged between a car as she raised the apparent knife in the air. The officer involved fires four shots, fatally injuring Bryant.
A man immediately yells at the officer, “You didn’t have to shoot her! She’s just a kid, man! ‘
The officer replies, “She had a knife. She just went up to her.”
POLICE RECORDINGS ON OHIO: MA-KHIA BRYANT’S MOTHER SAYS IT MUST NEVER HAPPEN
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther mourned the loss of the young victim, but defended the officer’s use of deadly force.
“We know from these images that the officer took action to protect another young girl in our community,” he told reporters. ‘But a family is mourning tonight and this boy [16-year-old] girl will never come home again. “
It is unclear whether anyone else was injured in the attack. The officer involved in the deadly shooting was taken off the street during an investigation into the shooting, authorities said.
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“This should never have happened,” the teen’s mother, Paula Bryant, told 10TV with a tear streaming down her face. “She’s a loving girl.” The teen’s family said she was the one who called the police and picked up a knife to defend herself in a neighborhood fight.
Protesters gathered near the shooting site and at Columbus Police Headquarters on Tuesday night. Many were seen pushing past police barriers outside headquarters around the same time bodycam footage was shown indoors.
Chants of “Black Women Are Important”, “Black Girls Are Important” and “Say Her Name!” sounded from the crowd.
Fox News’ Paul Best contributed to this report.