12 year-old Tamir Rice was shot and killed on Saturday after police open fired on him when he refused to raise his hands and opted to grab a toy gun instead. Officers were not aware that the gun was a toy as the orange marker was removed, which identifies the gun as a toy.
Rice was said to be at a playground prior to his death. He was aiming the Semi automatic replica at other patrons. The police were called and told that they suspected the gun was a toy, but the acting officers were not told that information and assumed the gun was real.
“There’s a guy in there with a pistol, you know, it’s probably fake, but he’s like pointing it at everybody,” the caller said, according to audio provided by CNN affiliate WEWS.
“He’s sitting on a swing right now, but he’s pulling it in and out of his pants and pointing it at people,” the caller said. “He’s probably a juvenile, you know?”
Rice was sitting on a swing and officers ordered him to put his hands up. He refused and reached for his waistband where the weapon was when officers fired two shots in the torso.
Rice’s father, Gregory Henderson questioned the officers actions, “Why not tase him? You 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.”
Rice died early Sunday morning at the age of 12 from his injuries.
Image Rice Family Photo
