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| US boy carrying replica gun shot dead by California police | US boy carrying replica gun shot dead by California police |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A 13-year-old boy carrying a replica assault rifle has been shot dead by police in the US state of California. | A 13-year-old boy carrying a replica assault rifle has been shot dead by police in the US state of California. |
| Officers in the city of Santa Rosa say they opened fire after the boy refused orders to drop the rifle, which they believed to be real. | Officers in the city of Santa Rosa say they opened fire after the boy refused orders to drop the rifle, which they believed to be real. |
| The shooting on Tuesday is now being investigated. | The shooting on Tuesday is now being investigated. |
| It comes a day after a 12-year-old boy in Nevada shot dead a maths teacher at his school and wounded two fellow pupils before taking his own life. | |
| In the latest incident, two sheriff's deputies saw the teenager "with what appeared to be some type of rifle", a news release from the Sonoma County Sheriff's office said. | In the latest incident, two sheriff's deputies saw the teenager "with what appeared to be some type of rifle", a news release from the Sonoma County Sheriff's office said. |
| The deputies called for backup and repeatedly ordered the boy to drop the gun before firing several rounds from their handguns, police said. | The deputies called for backup and repeatedly ordered the boy to drop the gun before firing several rounds from their handguns, police said. |
| The boy, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was later identified by his family as Andy Lopez. | The boy, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was later identified by his family as Andy Lopez. |
| His father, Rodrigo Lopez, said the replica gun had belonged to a friend. | His father, Rodrigo Lopez, said the replica gun had belonged to a friend. |
| The sheriff's office said a plastic handgun had also been found in the boy's waistband. | The sheriff's office said a plastic handgun had also been found in the boy's waistband. |
| Witness Brian Zastrow told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat he heard seven shots. | Witness Brian Zastrow told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat he heard seven shots. |
| "First, I heard a single siren and within seconds I heard seven shots go off, sounded like a nail gun," he said. | "First, I heard a single siren and within seconds I heard seven shots go off, sounded like a nail gun," he said. |
| Police Lt Dennis O'Leary said the deputies had been placed on administrative leave pending the inquiry. | Police Lt Dennis O'Leary said the deputies had been placed on administrative leave pending the inquiry. |
| Sheriff Steve Freitas described the shooting as a "tragedy" and promised the investigation would be thorough and transparent. | Sheriff Steve Freitas described the shooting as a "tragedy" and promised the investigation would be thorough and transparent. |
| "As a father of two boys about this age, I can't begin to imagine the grief this family is going through," he said. | "As a father of two boys about this age, I can't begin to imagine the grief this family is going through," he said. |
| A spokeswoman for the boy's school described him as "a very loved student, a very popular, very handsome young man, very smart and capable". | A spokeswoman for the boy's school described him as "a very loved student, a very popular, very handsome young man, very smart and capable". |
| Linsey Gannon, assistant principal at Lawrence Cook Middle School, said he played trumpet in the school band. | Linsey Gannon, assistant principal at Lawrence Cook Middle School, said he played trumpet in the school band. |
| "Our community has been rocked by his loss," she said. | "Our community has been rocked by his loss," she said. |
| Candles, teddy bears and flowers have since been left at the scene of the shooting. | Candles, teddy bears and flowers have since been left at the scene of the shooting. |
| On Monday, a 12-year-old boy who has not been named opened fire at a school in Sparks, Nevada, killing maths teacher and Afghanistan veteran Michael Landsberry. | On Monday, a 12-year-old boy who has not been named opened fire at a school in Sparks, Nevada, killing maths teacher and Afghanistan veteran Michael Landsberry. |
| Police said Mr Landsberry had tried to coax the boy to drop the gun, enabling children in the playground to flee. | Police said Mr Landsberry had tried to coax the boy to drop the gun, enabling children in the playground to flee. |
| The boy then shot and injured two fellow pupils, before taking his own life on the outdoor basketball court. | The boy then shot and injured two fellow pupils, before taking his own life on the outdoor basketball court. |
| President Barack Obama has recently renewed calls for changes to US gun laws following a series of deadly shootings. However, the BBC's Alastair Leithead in Los Angeles says the proposals face fierce resistance. | President Barack Obama has recently renewed calls for changes to US gun laws following a series of deadly shootings. However, the BBC's Alastair Leithead in Los Angeles says the proposals face fierce resistance. |