Columbus officer who shot, killed Ma’Khia Bryant will not face charges – WHIO TV 7 and

On Mar 14, 2022

COLUMBUS — The Columbus Police officer that shot and killed 16-year-old girl Ma’Khia Bryant last year will not face charges.

A grand jury did not find probable cause that a crime was committed, according to our news partners at WBNS.

Bryant, 16, was shot by Officer Nicholas Reardon in April 2021 while he was responding to a domestic dispute call.

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Video release by police showed Reardon arriving to the scene, pulling out his gun and firing four shots at Bryant. At the time, she appeared to have a knife in her hand.

Bryant was a foster child under the care of the Franklin County Children Services. News Center 7 previously reported that she was previously a student at Trotwood-Madison Local Schools.

Following the shooting, then Interim Columbus Police Chief Mike Woods said if there is an active assault going on and someone could lose their life, then the officer can use their gun to protect that third person.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted an investigation into the officer-involved shooting. They completed their investigation in July 2021, according to a release from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

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Following the grand jury’s decision, Michelle Martin, the attorney for Bryant’s family, released the following statement:

“Ma’Khia Bryant’s family is disappointed that a Franklin County grand jury declined to indict the officer who shot and killed her last year. Ma’Khia’s family has long wondered why this officer opted for lethal force even though there should have been other non-deadly options available to deal with this situation.

We believe that the tragedy that ultimately resulted in Ma’Khia’s death started long before she was shot and killed by a Columbus police officer. There must be full-scale changes made to Ohio’s foster care system to ensure that this doesn’t happen to another child.

We need to work tirelessly to protect those who are most vulnerable in our society. Ohio’s foster care system is failing our children and we cannot stand by and allow this to continue.

As the one-year anniversary of Ma’Khia’s death approaches, her family is resolute in their fight for justice on her behalf.”