The 12-year-old boy, Tamir Rice, has been shot and killed by the police after he flashed a toy gun at the police at a playgroud in Cleveland, United States.
On Saturday, November 22, Police officers were answering a 911 emergency call about someone waving a 'probably' fake gun at the playground, scaring everyone. When police got there, they confronted the boy and ordered him to raise his hands, but one of the officers shot him twice after he pulled the gun from his waist band. It was later discovered that the gun was a, 'airsoft' type replica gun that resembles a semi-automatic handgun.
Tamir Rice died the following day on Sunday, November 23 at a US hospital.
Speaking to Associated Press (AP), Deputy Chief of Police, Ed Tomba, said the boy did not make any verbal threat but grabbed the replica handgun after being told to raise his hands. The boy’s fake gun lacked the orange safety indicator usually found on the muzzle of fake guns.
Jeff Follmer, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association, said the officers were not told the caller thought the gun might be fake.
The attorney for the deceased family, Timothy Kucharski, also told AP that the boy had gone to the park with friends on Saturday, afternoon, but he did not know the details of what led to the shooting and that he needs to talk to witnesses.
The police department is investigating the shooting and both officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure. The county prosecutor's office also is investigating.
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