The attorney for the family of Ma’Khia Bryant said in a press conference Wednesday that they will be calling for federal investigations into the April 20 killing of the 16-year-old girl.
Attorney Michelle Martin of The Martin Law Firm said she will be fighting to see a Health and Human Services investigation into Ohio's foster care system, which Bryant was a part of. She is also calling for an investigation from the Department of Justice into the shooting, ABC reports.
“We are here, and we're going to investigate every agency that had a time and an opportunity to prevent Ma’Khia’s death,” Martin said. “We will push for those investigations beyond this shooting. All systems failed her.”
“We got these grown girls over here trying to fight us. Trying to stab us,” a female voice says on the 911 call, which Interim Police Chief Michael Woods played at an April 21 press conference. “Get here now!"
Officer Nicholas Reardon was dispatched three minutes after the 911 call, according to Columbus officials.
Body camera footage shows Reardon arrived on the scene at approximately 4:44 p.m. and exited the car to see Bryant rushing toward 20-year-old Shai-Onta Lana Craig-Watkins with a kitchen knife and then charging at 22-year-old Tionna Bonner with the knife and appearing to launch a stabbing or slashing attack.
Reardon then yelled “Get down!” and shot Bryant four times, 11 seconds after he exited his vehicle.
Ma'Khia Bryant charges at Tionna Bonner with what appears to be a knife. (Photo: Still from Officer Nicholas Reardon's body camera)
