Politics
Ma’Khia Bryant – My ‘loving’ niece, 16, was killed ‘like a dog in the street’ by white cop, says aunt
THE aunt of the 16-year-old black girl shot dead by a white cop says her “loving” niece was killed “like a dog in the street”.
Ma’khia Bryant was gunned down by police in Ohio just moments before Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd.
Read our George Floyd trial live blog for the latest updates
Graphic bodycamera footage shows a female being shot by a cop seconds after police arrived on scene[/caption]
A cop stood nearby where the person lay on the ground[/caption]
Ma’Khia Bryant, 16, was fatally shot by police, her family said[/caption]
Police responded to a call in Columbus that reported a teen was wielding a knife and was allegedly threatening to stab someone.
Graphic police bodycam footage from the incident, released by officials, showed two females arguing, as one was thrown to the ground.
The girl standing appeared to have a weapon in her hand – which police said was a knife – and moved against a vehicle with another female.
As the pair moved toward the vehicle, the girl who cops say had a blade raised her arm.
Someone could be heard yelling “Get down!” multiple times as an officer immediately pulled out his gun and fired repeated shots.
The girl, Ma’khia, then collapsed to the ground. She was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead.
Hazel Bryant, pictured here after the incident, described her niece as ‘loving’[/caption]
Ma’khia with mum Paula, who said her daughter as a ‘peaceful little girl’[/caption]
Hazel Bryant, who said she is Ma’khia’s aunt, said her niece called police because she was being abused by someone at the foster home where she lived, The Daily Beast reported.
She claimed that Ma’khia had a knife – but although she dropped it, she was shot multiple times
Hazel described her niece as “a good kid”.
“She was loving,” Hazel added.
“She didn’t deserve to die like a dog in the street.”
It comes as:
- Ma’khia Bryant, 16, was fatally shot by cops in Ohio after an altercation with two others
- Celebrations erupted across the US after killer cop Derek Chauvin was found guilty
- Daunte Wright cop told ‘you’re next b***h’ as she is bombarded with threats after Chauvin verdict
- Candace Owens tells Tucker Carlson Chauvin verdict was ‘mob justice’
- Moment Biden tell George Floyd’s family ‘thank God you have justice’
Meanwhile, Ma’khia’s mom Paula Bryant told how her daughter was a “sweet child” who was on the honor roll at school.
“She was a very loving, peaceful little girl,” Paula Bryant told WBNS.
She added: “Ma’Kihia had a motherly nature about her. She promoted peace.”
“That’s something that I want to always be remembered.”
On Facebook, Paula shared a picture with daughter, with the caption: “Fly high in heaven babygirl”.
Protests erupted in Columbus hours after the fatal shooting[/caption]
Riots in Columbus after a teen was shot dead by police[/caption]
The shooting happened just moments before Derek Chauvin’s guilty verdict was revealed[/caption]
Just hours after the incident in South Columbus, riots erupted as protesters took to the streets.
Crowds gathered last night in Columbus and in front of the Ohio Statehouse brandishing signs with Ma’Khia’s name on, as well as the words ‘Black Lives Matter’.
The shooting came shortly before Derek Chauvin wad handed a guilty verdict in the murder of George Floyd.
The 45-year-old former officer faces a maximum sentence of 75 years in jail after being found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The racially diverse jury – anonymous and sequestered from the outside world – deliberated for around 10-and-a-half hours before reaching their verdict on Tuesday.
As each of the charges against Chauvin was separate, jurors had to reach a separate verdict for each count. They had to conclude Chauvin’s actions were a “substantial causal factor” in Floyd’s death and that his use of force was unreasonable.
Most read in News
The second-degree murder charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, the third-degree murder charge a maximum of 25 years and the second-degree manslaughter charge a maximum of 10 years.
Chauvin is currently facing a maximum of 75 years behind bars, however, prosecutors previously said they’d be seeking enhanced sentences for all convictions.
Sentencing is due to take place in eight weeks time, Judge Peter Cahill said.
