An Ohio grand jury reportedly declined to charge a Columbus police officer who fatally shot a 16-year-old girl in April 2021.
It was a clear Tuesday afternoon in April as Columbus police officers responded to a request for help at 3171 Legion Lane. The 911-caller said females were there to stab them and put their hands on them, police reportedly told a local ABC News affiliate.
Columbus Police officials at the time said dispatchers were unable to get information about weapons at the scene.
A local journalist posted an excerpt of the 911 call to his Twitter account. “Hear disturbance in [background]. ‘We got people trying to fight us, trying to stab us, trying to put their hands on our grandma.’ Screams. Line goes dead.”
Officers reportedly arrived at the scene at 4:44 p.m.
Body-camera video worn by police shows Bryant appearing to try to stab two females when Officer Nicholas Reardon fired, striking her. Bryant, who was Black, was in front of her foster home when the incident occurred. Bryant’s friends and witnesses reportedly said other people at the house were the aggressors and claimed Bryant was defending herself, according to The Columbia Dispatch.
Officer Reardon had been with the Columbus Police Department for a little more than one year when he shot Ma’Khia Bryant. Columbus Interim Police Chief Michael Woods said Reardon was hired in December 2019.
Woods, during a press conference at the time, said officers immediately began life-saving measures, and medics were called immediately. Bryant was taken to Mt. Carmel East in critical condition but was pronounced just before 5:30 p.m.
Reardon appeared Friday before a Franklin County grand jury, which reportedly voted against criminally charging him in Bryant’s death.
“The jury decided to return a no bill which means they did not proceed with any criminal charges against officer Reardon and found no criminal act,” Fraternal Order of Police President Jeff Simpson said. “That is pleasing to hear. It’s always sad when there is a loss of life, however, the actions of the people at scene, caused him to take action that saved lives and he is trained very well. He did his job, and it is a good outcome.”
G. Gary Tyack, Franklin County’s Prosecuting Attorney, did not immediately return a call requesting comment on the grand jury decision.
Bryant’s case was reportedly assigned to Special Prosecutors H. Tim Merkle and Gary Shroyer because Tyack serves as legal counsel for the County’s Childrens Services, which created at least the appearance of a potential conflict of interest.
“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,” said Michelle Martin, an attorney representing the Bryant family. “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.”
