Democratic Congresswoman: Officer in Ma‘Khia Bryant’s Death ’Responded as He Was Trained’

In an image from police bodycam video that the Columbus Police Department played during a news conference, Ma’Khia Bryant wields a knife while attacking another girl before being shot by a police officer, in Columbus, Ohio, on April 20, 2021. Columbus Police Department via WSYX-TV via AP

Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) said the officer who fatally shot Ma'Khia Bryant, 16, last week appeared to have been “responding as he was trained” to deal with the situation, saying he had to make a split-second decision.

Bryant, of Columbus, Ohio, was seen on body camera footage being shot by an officer. She appeared to be holding a knife and was lunging at a young woman.