THE GRIEVING kin of 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant who died after being struck by an Ohio cop’s gunshots on Tuesday believes the foster family system failed her and is looking to sue.
The family has already started the process of consulting with an attorney and plans on moving forward to take legal action.
"Someone has to be held accountable," the late teen’s cousin, Deja Torrence, said in an interview with Insider, without being specific as to who that might be.
"The family just doesn't want this to be another senseless killing that goes under the rug and gets overlooked."
Both Bryant's biological mother, Paula, and Torrence’s mother, Hazel Bryant, are in close communication since the devastating news hit them on Tuesday.
The specifics as to who would be put on legal notice and when remain unclear.
However, the cousin fingered the foster system for failing Ma'Khia Bryant for they had custody over her when she was slain.
On Tuesday, Bryant was scuffling with two women.
The pair were reportedly former foster children who tussled with Bryant over the untidy home, Bryant’s foster mother, Angela Moore, told CNN.
"It was over keeping the house clean," Moore said. "The older one told them to clean up the house because 'Mom doesn't like the house dirty.'"
"So that's how it all started."
The woman had arrived at the home hoping to celebrate a birthday party.
The Columbus Police Department released bodycam footage of the deadly incident that occurred moments before a jury would convict former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin on all counts of murder and manslaughter charges.
Cops say they prior to the physical fight outside the home, they received a disturbance call from a person who said someone was trying to stab them at 4.32pm, with officers arriving on scene minutes later at 4.44pm.
Bryant's aunt, Hazel, said her niece had called police because she was being abused by someone at the foster home where she lived.
Her niece can be seen wrestling with one woman wearing a pink tracksuit.
As their scuffle headed toward the parked car, Bryant, who cops say wielded a blade, raised her arm.
Someone could be heard yelling "Get down!" multiple times as the Columbus Police Officer, later identified as Nicholas Reardon, drew his gun.
Despite dropping her knife as the cop commanded her, Hazel said Ma’Khia was still shot multiple times and by the police officer.
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