Family members of Ma’Khia Bryant, the teenager gunned down by Columbus Police officer Nicholas Reardon after calling authorities for help, say more work needs to be done by prosecutors investigating the shooting.
|| RELATED: Ma’Khia Bryant’s Family Supports Probe Of Her Time In Foster Care ||
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) concluded its review of the fatal April 2021 encounter and has referred the case to Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack.
“Ma’Khia’s life as we all know was taken far too soon.” Attorney Michelle Martin said as she stood outside City Hall with Bryant’s grandmother and sister. “And we must do everything we can to make sure it is not swept under the rug.”
According to Martin, witnesses who were “excluded from the BCI investigation” must not be ignored.
“It was not thorough enough for me because they did not interview me that night.” Jeanene Hammond, Ma’Khia’s grandmother, said of the BCI investigation. “It was nearly a month after the incident that they sent me a letter stating that we want to interview you now. Why did you detain me that night and say you’d charge me with a felony and not interview me?”
For Ja’Naiha Bryant, life after losing her sister has been marked with unanswered questions and frustration with the legal system.
“I am trying to keep normalcy. I am trying to be a teenager but I am also trying to get justice for my sister,” Bryant said.
The police-involved shooting death of the 16-year-old teen came at an especially sensitive time for the nation, as many had just learned the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial, in which the former Minnesota officer was found guilty of brutally murdering George Floyd.
Police have yet to release full details of what transpired when officers were called to a residence in Columbus that reported threats of inter-household violence. Bodycam footage showed where officer Nicholas Reardon fatally shot Ma’Khia after she wielded a knife at two woman near the driveway of the home.
The Latest:
- Local Star Will Shipley Drafted In Fourth Round by Eagles
- Charlotte Temperature Escalates
- Jess Hilarious Debuts A New ‘Break Ya Neck’ Bob On Instagram
- ‘Challengers’ Exclusive: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor & Mike Faist Talk Sexy Tennis Drama, Trending ‘Villain’ Tashi Duncan & More
- Rihanna Brings Blonde Bombshell Beauty To The Launch Of Her New Fenty Foundation
- Individual Shot Prior to Car Collision with Two Homes
- Carolina Panthers Pick LB Trevin Wallace in 3rd Round
- Panthers Draft WR Xavier Legette With Final Pick of First Round
- Mooresville Residents Express Concern on Gun Law Discrepancies
- Mooresville Business Owner’s Dream Dashed by Massive Sinkhole
Ma’Khia Bryant’s Family Calls For Deeper Investigation As Case Heads To Grand Jury was originally published on mycolumbuspower.com