Shooting of Ma'Khia Bryant

Content Warning: The following entry contains graphic material.

Overview

The Shooting of Ma'Khia Bryant occurred on April 20th, 2021, when the 16-year-old girl was shot by police in Columbus, Ohio. During an altercation between several people, police responded to a 911 call about an attempted stabbing. Upon arriving at the scene, police approached the group and an altercation broke out as Bryant attempted to stab another girl while wielding a knife, resulting in an officer shooting and killing her during the fight. The shooting, which occurred just before the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin's trial, sparked a wave of protests in Columbus and the release of the officer’s bodycam footage.

Background

On April 20th, 2021, two members of the Columbus Division of Police responded to an emergency call about an attempted stabbing in the southeastern part of the city. After arriving, an altercation between four individuals broke out with one man kicking another and Bryant attempting to stab another with what appears to be a knife in her right hand. Per the police report and bodycam footage, Bryant is seen preparing to stab a woman in a pink outfit near a car when an officer shouts “get down” repeatedly before pulling out his sidearm and firing approximately four shots at Bryant.^[1] She then proceeds to collapse, dropping the weapon and later dying from her injuries.

Shortly after the event occurred, police released the body camera footage of the shooting to the public that night as protests began erupting in Columbus, Ohio. Bryant was later identified by a spokesperson from the Franklin County Children’s Services, who said she had been in foster care.^[2]

Developments

Protests

Within a few hours of the shooting, protesters began gathering near the scene of the shooting, carrying BLM signs and megaphones.^[5] At around 8 p.m. on April 20th, Twitter^[4] user ohiocapitalblog tweeted footage of the gathering crowds.

Video from Legion Lane: pic.twitter.com/bdEdl0BUDo

— Marc Kovac (@ohiocapitalblog) April 21, 2021

As protests in Columbus continued, crowds eventually began gathering near the city's police building, which continued throughout the night as people chanted "say her name" through loudspeakers.

Government Response

The night of the shooting, local officials in Columbus held a press conference to address the events, where they also released the officer's bodycam footage. During the conference, Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus Jr. put out a statement in a news release and said, "She could be my grandchild. My heart breaks for her family tonight. No matter what the circumstances, they are in agony, and they are in my prayers."^[3]

Statement from Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus, Jr. pic.twitter.com/J11NYDvqSy

— Columbus Department of Public Safety (@ColumbusSafety) April 21, 2021

Columbus Interim Police Chief Michael Woods also stated during the conference that the officer would be taken off the street while an investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation occurs.

Search Interest

External References