THE COP who shot and killed Ma'Khia Bryant appears to be an "expert Air National Guard Marksman," reports say.

Officer Nicholas Reardon opened fire on 16-year-old Bryant, who had been wielding a knife just seconds after he arrived on the scene in Columbus, Ohio, according to police footage.

The teenager drew the weapon during an altercation on the street with two other females the same day as Derek Chauvin's guilty verdict.

Cops say 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.

Reardon, was a graduate of Bishop Watterson Catholic school in Columbus and was a member of the school's wrestling team, according to Daily Beast.

The school posted updates on his progress whilst he attended Air Force basic combat training.

According to those updates, he graduated from the training in August 2017 before attending the military's Security Forces Tech School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

The paper discovered a photograph of Reardon in his uniform at the time, which indicated he had completed training within a rank of Airman First Class.

The paper discovered a photograph of Reardon in his uniform at the time, which indicated he had completed training within a rank of Airman First Class.

Daily Beast also discovered he appears to be the son of retired Sergeant Edward Reardon.

Reardon Snr. worked with the Columbus Division of Police for 32 years and according to the publication, is an Air Force veteran.

He served as the Columbus Police Academy's basic training sergeant.

He retired last year and was honoured at an Ohio State Football game by one of his pals whose tweet was announced: "I am very proud of my friend Sgt. Ted Reardon who was recognized at today's Ohio State Football game.

"I have served with him in the USAF 1984-1987 and @ColumbusPolice 1993-to present,

"May God bless him and his family!"

The Columbus Dispatch noted that Reardon Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and joined the police department in December 2019.

Police bodycamera video from the incident, released by Columbus police on Wednesday, showed two females arguing, as one was thrown to the ground.

The girl standing appeared to have a weapon in her hand – which police said was a knife – and moved against a vehicle with another female.

As the pair moved toward the vehicle, the girl who cops say had a blade raised her arm.

Someone could be heard yelling "Get down!" multiple times as an officer immediately pulled out his gun and fired repeated shots.

The girl then collapsed on the ground.

A police spokesperson said at a press conference that officers administered immediate CPR and aid "as per policy."

The police-involved shooting happened in Ohio just before Chauvin was found guilty on all counts in the death of George Floyd.

Cops have yet to reveal who the victim was – but she was identified by family as 16-year-old Ma'khia Bryant, WBNS reported.

Hazel Bryant, who said she is Ma'khia's aunt, said her niece called police because several adult women had come to the foster home where she was living and started an altercation with her, The Daily Beast reported.  

She told The Columbus Dispatch that her niece got into an altercation with someone who lived at the home.

Hazel claimed that Ma'khia had a knife – and although she dropped it, she was shot multiple times, reports The Columbus Dispatch.

"She didn’t deserve to die like a dog in the street," Bryant said, as reported by The Daily Beast.

Mom Paula Bryant described her daughter as a "sweet child" who was on the honor roll at school.

"She was a very loving, peaceful little girl," Paula Bryant told WBNS.

She added: "Ma'Khia had a motherly nature about her. She promoted peace."

"That's something that I want to always be remembered."

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