#Columbus police shooting news full#

“Ohio’s foster care system is failing our children and we cannot stand by and allow this to continue,” the statement said. The city will now conduct an internal review to determine whether Reardon’s actions followed department policy, the Columbus Public Safety Department tweeted.īryant’s family expressed disappointment that Reardon wasn’t charged and said in a statement: “There should have been other non-deadly options available to deal with this situation.” Her family also called for “full-scale changes” to Ohio’s foster-care system to prevent similar tragedies. “At the time I fired my weapon, I was in fear for the life of the female in pink,” Reardon said, referring to Craig.

Reardon told investigators he didn’t think using mace or a “hands-on” approach would have worked because of the knife in Bryant’s hand, because he thought he was the only officer on scene and because Bryant appeared much bigger than him. The woman Bryant was attacking, Shai-onta Craig, had formerly lived at the home but had returned and argued with her that day, according to Craig’s statement to police released Friday. READ MORE: Examining the police shootings of Black Americans and how leadership plays a role

#Columbus police shooting news full#

In announcing the grand jury decision, special prosecutors Tim Merkle and Gary Shroyer noted, “Under Ohio law the use of deadly force by a police officer is justified when there exists an immediate or imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another.” They said the decision followed a full review of the shooting. It doesn’t imply criminal intent.īryant’s killing further heightened tensions in Ohio’s capital city over fatal police shootings of Black people, and also cast a light on the state’s foster care system. The coroner listed the cause of death as a homicide - a medical determination used in cases where someone has died at someone else’s hand, but not a legal finding. The killing led to a Justice Department review of the police department in Ohio’s capital city.īryant was shot four times and died from her injuries. Police were responding to a 911 call made from Bryant’s foster home about a group of girls threatening to stab members of the household.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Columbus police officer who shot and killed 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant last year has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, Ohio prosecutors announced Friday.īryant was killed in April by Columbus police officer Nicholas Reardon as she swung a knife at a young woman, just seconds after pushing another woman to the ground.