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Cleveland police shoot dead boy, 12, carrying fake gun | Cleveland police shoot dead boy, 12, carrying fake gun |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A 12-year-old boy has been shot dead by police in the US city of Cleveland, after brandishing what turned out to be a fake gun in a playground. | A 12-year-old boy has been shot dead by police in the US city of Cleveland, after brandishing what turned out to be a fake gun in a playground. |
Police say an officer fired two shots at the boy after he failed to obey an order to raise his hands. | Police say an officer fired two shots at the boy after he failed to obey an order to raise his hands. |
A caller reported the boy to police for scaring people with a gun but said that he did not know if it was real. | A caller reported the boy to police for scaring people with a gun but said that he did not know if it was real. |
One of the officers was in his first year on the local force, the other had more than 10 years of experience. | One of the officers was in his first year on the local force, the other had more than 10 years of experience. |
'Airsoft' | 'Airsoft' |
The medical examiner for Cuyahoga County identified the boy as Tamir Rice. | |
Cleveland deputy police chief Ed Tomba said the boy was shot twice after pulling the gun from the waistband of his trousers. He died later in hospital. | Cleveland deputy police chief Ed Tomba said the boy was shot twice after pulling the gun from the waistband of his trousers. He died later in hospital. |
The boy did not make any verbal threats nor point the gun towards the officers, Mr Tomba added. | The boy did not make any verbal threats nor point the gun towards the officers, Mr Tomba added. |
Police said the weapon was an "airsoft" replica gun that resembled a semi-automatic pistol, adding that an orange safety indicator had been removed. | Police said the weapon was an "airsoft" replica gun that resembled a semi-automatic pistol, adding that an orange safety indicator had been removed. |
The caller said the boy was pulling the gun in and out of his trousers. "I don't know if it's real or not," the caller told police. | The caller said the boy was pulling the gun in and out of his trousers. "I don't know if it's real or not," the caller told police. |
But Jeff Follmer, president of the Cleveland police association, said the two officers at the scene were not told about the caller's comments. | But Jeff Follmer, president of the Cleveland police association, said the two officers at the scene were not told about the caller's comments. |
The BBC's David Willis in Washington says an investigation is under way and both officers have been placed on administrative leave. | The BBC's David Willis in Washington says an investigation is under way and both officers have been placed on administrative leave. |
Cleveland's police force has come under increased scrutiny in recent years, most notably over a high-profile car chase in 2012 that ended with two deaths and officers firing 137 shots. | Cleveland's police force has come under increased scrutiny in recent years, most notably over a high-profile car chase in 2012 that ended with two deaths and officers firing 137 shots. |
The US Justice Department is currently conducting an investigation of the force's pursuit and use-of-force practices. | The US Justice Department is currently conducting an investigation of the force's pursuit and use-of-force practices. |