US police shoot and kill teenager in Ohio as Derek Chauvin is convicted

The 16-year-old was fatally shot minutes before the verdict in George Floyd trial was announced

Black Lives Matter activists confront Columbus Police outside of Columbus Police headquarters during a protest in reaction to the shooting of Makiyah Bryant in Columbus, Ohio. AFP

Black Lives Matter activist holds a sign against police brutality in front of the Ohio Statehouse in reaction to the shooting of Makiyah Bryant in Columbus, Ohio. AFP

Black Lives Matter activists led by Hana Abdur-Rahim, a local organizer, march through downtown in reaction to the shooting of Makiyah Bryant in Columbus, Ohio. AFP

Black Lives Matter activists stand with shields outside of the Columbus Police Headquarters in reaction to the police shooting of Makiyah Bryant in Columbus, Ohio. AFP

Local citizens confront police in the neighborhood where a Columbus police officer fatally shot a teenage girl, in Columbus, Ohio. AP Photo

Protesters hold a sign with the name of Ma'Khia Bryant, who was fatally shot by a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, as they gather on a road after the verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, found guilty of the death of George Floyd, in Portland, Oregon. Reuters

Crowds react as investigators work at the scene where 16-year-old Makiyah Bryant was fatally shot by a police officer in Columbus, Ohio. Reuters

Investigators work at the scene where a fatal shooting by a police officer occurred in Columbus, Ohio. Reuters

Hazel Bryant talks to the media after her niece, 16-year-old Makiyah Bryant, was fatally shot by a police officer in Columbus, Ohio. Reuters

Crowds react as investigators work at the scene where Makiyah Bryant was fatally shot by a police officer in Columbus, Ohio. Reuters

A woman reacts as investigators work at the scene where 16-year-old Makiyah Bryant was fatally shot by a police officer in Columbus, Ohio. Reuters

Shanise Washington reacts as investigators work at the scene where 16-year-old Makiyah Bryant was shot and killed by a police officer in Columbus, Ohio. Reuters

Police shot and killed a teenage girl on Tuesday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio, just as the verdict was being announced in the trial for the killing of George Floyd.

Police released bodycam video hours later at a news conference of the officer shooting the girl, who was black.

Police involved in the shooting were answering an emergency call about an attempted stabbing by a female suspect.

In the video, it appears that Makiyah Bryant, 16, was shot by police moments after pushing or swinging at a person who fell to the ground and then swinging what appeared to be a knife at a girl on the bonnet of a car.

In the footage, it appeared that the police officers fired four times, striking Bryant.

The girl was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said.

It is not clear whether anyone else was injured.

"It's a tragic day in the city of Columbus. It's a horrible, heartbreaking situation," said Mayor Andrew Ginther.

"We felt transparency in sharing this footage, as incomplete as it is at this time [was critical]," he said.

A crowd gathered on Tuesday night at the scene on Legion Lane, which police had partially blocked to traffic.

Others gathered at the city’s police headquarters to protest, a week after officers pepper-sprayed a group that tried to enter the headquarters over the police killing of a man who had a gun in a hospital emergency room.

Hundreds of protesters pushed past police barriers outside the headquarters and approached officers as city officials were showing the bodycam video inside.

Many chanted, "Say her name!" While others signified the victim's age by yelling, "she was just a kid".

Officers with bicycles pushed protesters back and threatened to use pepper spray on the crowd.

The shooting happened about 25 minutes before a judge read the verdict convicting former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin of murder and manslaughter in the killing of Floyd.

Kimberly Shepherd, 50, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 17 years, told the Associated Press that she knew the victim.

"The neighbourhood definitely went through its changes, but nothing like this," Ms Shepherd said of the shooting.

“But this is the worst thing that has ever happened out here and unfortunately it is at the hands of police.”

Ms Shepherd and her neighbour Jayme Jones, 51, celebrated the guilty verdict of Mr Chauvin.

But things changed quickly, she said.

“We were happy about the verdict. But you couldn’t even enjoy that,” Ms Shepherd said.

“Because as you’re getting one phone call that he was guilty, I’m getting the next phone call that this is happening in my neighbourhood.”