Columbus Police release bodycam footage of officer shooting, killing 16-year-old girl holding knife

COLUMBUS — The Columbus Division of Police released bodycam footage Tuesday evening following the fatal shooting of a teenage girl by a police officer.

16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant has been identified as the shooting victim by WBNS-TV.

Officers were called to the 3100 block of Legion Lane, north of Chatterton Road, just after 4:30 p.m. for a disturbance.

Interim Police Chief Mike Woods said that a 911 caller reported that a group of females were trying to stab them.

Woods said dispatchers tried to get additional information from the caller, but the call was disconnected.

In the bodycam video released by the Columbus Police Department, it appeared that a Black girl was trying to stab two people with a knife, according to The Associated Press.

“This is a horrible, tragic day in the city of Columbus,” Mayor Andrew Ginther said.

Ginther also added, “it is clear the officer took action to protect another young life.”

WBNS-TV reports the family says the teen called the police for help because girls were fighting outside of her house.

The teen was taken to Mount Carmel East in critical condition where she was pronounced dead.

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Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther released a statement on Twitter saying “a young woman tragically lost her life” and that there is body camera footage of the incident. Ginther asked for people to “remain calm” and allow investigators to gather the facts.

We will continue to provide updates to this story.

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