Catch 22

On April 21st, 2021 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant was shot four times, and fatally killed at the hands of a
Columbus Ohio police officer. My first thoughts were why did he kill her, why couldn’t he have just tased
her, why did he shoot her four times? As I kept watching the video of the incident on the news, I could
not help but think “another black victim”. I questioned how this situation could have turned out if
Ma’Khia would have done what the police officer when she told her to do? Why didn’t the adults try
stopping the fight before the police arrived?
As a parent this situation opened my eyes, to conversations I need to have with my children, when
approached or confront by a police officer. We need to be more aware of our children’s feelings. Why
didn’t Ma’Khia do what was asked? I believe that Ma’Khia would still be alive today had she simply
followed the officer’s orders. I know it is hard for us to believe this child may have caused her own
death, I feel her actions contributed to her death.
New video shows Columbus police shooting of teenager Ma’Khia Bryant – YouTube