Family of Ma’Khia Bryant Reportedly Considering Taking Legal Action
REPORT: The cousin of Ma’Khia Bryant’s family told Insider that they are weighing taking legal action but she did not specify against who.
The family of Ma'Khia Bryant, who was killed by police in Columbus, Ohio, is in talks with a lawyer according to their cousin Deja Torrence.
The cousin claimed that the foster care system failed the 16-year old knife wielding girl.
The family reportedly believes they deserve “accountability” for the teenager’s death and are even weighing legal action against numerous parties. This is all despite the fact that the 16-year old Bryant was in the midst of potentially trying to stab another young girl to death with a large kitchen knife.
The police in Columbus released body-camera footage last week showing Bryant pushing a girl to the ground outside the foster home before swinging at another girl with what appears to be a kitchen knife. The video then shows an officer, identified as Nicholas Reardon, shooting Bryant, who died at a hospital.
The cousin Deja Torrence told Insider that her mother, Hazel Bryant, and Bryant's biological mother, Paula, had all been in communication throughout the week, including Friday morning. They are reportedly in talks with a lawyer and want to take legal action.
"Someone has to be held accountable, the family just doesn't want this to be another senseless killing that goes under the rug and gets overlooked."
The police officer who took decisive action, Nicholas Reardon has been taken off street duty, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is currently looking into the matter.
A neighbor of the foster home reportedly said video footage captured by his security camera made him believe the officer, Nicholas Reardon, had no choice but to shoot Bryant.
“It was violent and all just happened so fast,” Donavon Brinson told reporters.
Numerous policing experts and legal commentators have also stated that Reardon was acting properly.
It’s unclear if the Bryant family is considering taking legal action against the foster care system, the Columbus police department, or both.
Do you think the Bryant family has any justification for legal action against anyone? Did the foster care system fail her or did her family fail her? Is Nicholas Reardon a hero? Comment your thoughts below!