Ma’Khia Bryant killer cop did not tell her to ‘drop the knife’ before shooting 4 times, claims witness who filmed video
POLICE did not tell 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant to drop the knife she was holding before shooting her four times, a witness claims.
It appeared to be confirmed by bodycam video that shows officers opening fire within seconds of arriving to a street scuffle in Ohio.
Her death emerged hours after the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, which was hailed as a reckoning for police violence against black Americans.
Last night a neighbor identified as Tay Jones said on Facebook she had witnessed the shooting and posted a video purportedly from the scene.
She said the teen had the knife “because somebody tried to jump her.”
"She didn’t deserve to die like a dog in the street," Hazel told reporters.
She added: "Ma'Khia had a motherly nature about her. She promoted peace.
"That's something that I want to always be remembered."
News of the shootings of a black teenager first spread on social media.
A video shared online showed a girl on the ground as white police officers stood over her.
With unprecedented speed, police released the bodycam video within hours of the shooting.
"It's a tragic day in the city of Columbus. It's a horrible, heartbreaking situation," said Mayor Andrew Ginther.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"We felt transparency in sharing this footage, as incomplete as it is at this time, (was critical)".
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting.