This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30172433
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 8 | Version 9 |
---|---|
Tamir Rice: US police kill boy, 12, carrying replica gun | Tamir Rice: US police kill boy, 12, carrying replica gun |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A 12-year-old boy has died after being shot by police in the US city of Cleveland, after carrying what turned out to be a replica gun in a playground. | A 12-year-old boy has died after being shot by police in the US city of Cleveland, after carrying what turned out to be a replica gun in a playground. |
Police say an officer fired two shots at Tamir Rice after he failed to obey an order to raise his hands. | Police say an officer fired two shots at Tamir Rice after he failed to obey an order to raise his hands. |
He did not make any verbal threats nor point the gun towards the officers. | He did not make any verbal threats nor point the gun towards the officers. |
A lawyer representing his family said it would be carrying out its own investigation into what happened. | A lawyer representing his family said it would be carrying out its own investigation into what happened. |
The incident comes as a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, will decide imminently whether to indict a police officer in the fatal shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager. | The incident comes as a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, will decide imminently whether to indict a police officer in the fatal shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager. |
His shooting in August in Ferguson sparked days of violent protests in the town, prompting a heavy police crackdown. | His shooting in August in Ferguson sparked days of violent protests in the town, prompting a heavy police crackdown. |
'Airsoft' | 'Airsoft' |
The boy was shot on Saturday afternoon and died in hospital early on Sunday morning. | The boy was shot on Saturday afternoon and died in hospital early on Sunday morning. |
Cleveland deputy police chief Ed Tomba said the boy was shot twice after pulling the gun from the waistband of his trousers. | |
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. |
An audio recording of the 911 emergency call made by the man who reported the incident reveals that on two occasions he said that the pistol was "probably a fake" and on another occasion that the person holding it "was probably a juvenile". | An audio recording of the 911 emergency call made by the man who reported the incident reveals that on two occasions he said that the pistol was "probably a fake" and on another occasion that the person holding it "was probably a juvenile". |
The caller also said that he was not sure whether the weapon was "real or not". | The caller also said that he was not sure whether the weapon was "real or not". |
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. |
One of the officers involved was in his first year on the local force, the other had more than 10 years of experience. | One of the officers involved was in his first year on the local force, the other had more than 10 years of experience. |
The BBC's David Willis in Washington says an official investigation is under way and both officers have been placed on administrative leave. | The BBC's David Willis in Washington says an official investigation is under way and both officers have been placed on administrative leave. |
Tamir Rice's father, Gregory Henderson, said that police should have used a stun gun - or Taser - to subdue his son rather than shoot him. | Tamir Rice's father, Gregory Henderson, said that police should have used a stun gun - or Taser - to subdue his son rather than shoot him. |
"Why not Tase him?" he was quoted as asking by Cleveland.com. "[They] shot him twice, not once, and at the end of the day you all don't shoot for the legs, you shoot for the upper body," he said. | "Why not Tase him?" he was quoted as asking by Cleveland.com. "[They] shot him twice, not once, and at the end of the day you all don't shoot for the legs, you shoot for the upper body," he said. |
Mr Henderson said that Tamir was a "respectful young man" who "minded his elders", and he that it was a mystery to him why son, reported to be tall for his age, allegedly did not follow police orders. | Mr Henderson said that Tamir was a "respectful young man" who "minded his elders", and he that it was a mystery to him why son, reported to be tall for his age, allegedly did not follow police orders. |
There have been calls for tighter controls on fake guns, with one local lawmaker - Alicia Reece - saying she intends to introduce legislation that would require fake guns sold in Ohio to be brightly coloured. | There have been calls for tighter controls on fake guns, with one local lawmaker - Alicia Reece - saying she intends to introduce legislation that would require fake guns sold in Ohio to be brightly coloured. |
A lawyer for Rice's family, Timothy Kucharski, told the BBC that he would be conducting an investigation, in "parallel" to the police, in order to establish exactly what happened. | A lawyer for Rice's family, Timothy Kucharski, told the BBC that he would be conducting an investigation, in "parallel" to the police, in order to establish exactly what happened. |
"If in fact we determine that Tamir's rights are violated, we will proceed with civil action against the police," he said. | "If in fact we determine that Tamir's rights are violated, we will proceed with civil action against the police," he said. |
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. |
Are you in Cleveland? Do you have any information you would like to share? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are willing to talk to a BBC journalist, please leave a contact number. | Are you in Cleveland? Do you have any information you would like to share? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are willing to talk to a BBC journalist, please leave a contact number. |
Have your say | Have your say |