Officer Who Killed Ma’Khia Bryant Will Not Face Charges

Jeff Simpson, the president of the union that represents Columbus cops, stated he sat with Officer Reardon and his household for 4 hours on Friday as they awaited the grand jury’s determination. He stated the officer was relieved by the end result however nonetheless grappling with having killed a teenage lady in what he has stated was an try to avoid wasting the lifetime of the opposite younger girl.

“He needs he by no means would’ve been put in that place,” Mr. Simpson stated.

Officer Reardon, who has been on desk responsibility because the capturing, hopes to return to patrolling now that the case is full, he stated.

The encounter started on April 20, 2021, when the sisters have been at dwelling after faculty with Tionna Bonner, the 22-year-old girl, who had beforehand lived there. Ja’Niah instructed The New York Instances final spring that the older girl was berating them for not being clear sufficient and for disrespecting their foster mom.

As issues escalated, Ja’Niah referred to as her grandmother Jeanene Hammonds for assist. Ms. Hammonds had taken care of the kids after they have been taken away from their mom over claims of abuse and neglect, however she stated she misplaced custody when her landlord kicked her out of her dwelling and she or he had nowhere everlasting to reside.

In interviews final 12 months, Ms. Hammonds described arriving on the foster dwelling and making an attempt to maintain her grandchildren separated from the previous resident and one other former foster youngster who had additionally arrived and joined the fray. Ms. Hammonds stated she urged her grandchildren to pack up their belongings and had deliberate to take them to her home.

However because the shouting continued, Ja’Niah and her grandmother stated, Ma’Khia grabbed a steak knife from the kitchen. Ms. Bonner grabbed a pink knife from her automotive, in accordance with an investigative report launched on Friday, confirming the household’s declare that she additionally had a knife through the dispute. Ms. Bonner instructed the investigators that she had put the knife again into her automotive earlier than the police arrived, and that she believed that Mr. Reardon had saved a life by capturing Ma’Khia.

Inside the home, Ja’Niah referred to as 911 asking for assist, saying that “grown ladies” have been “making an attempt to stab us” and had tried to harm the grandmother.