5’7” and 195 pounds is a very big 12 year old. I’m not defending the officer but he probably didn’t look like a young boy playing with a toy gun. With the hysteria that always follows mass shootings the officer could have felt a great deal of anxiety and pressure to protect everyone at the park.
“With the hysteria that always follows mass shootings the officer could have felt a great deal of anxiety and pressure to protect everyone at the park.”
You’re probably right on that!
That IS big for a 12 year old. He outweighs me by 20lbs, I’m just 4 inches taller, and I’m 26 years older than he is!
Check out the past history of this officer, (Especially his history relating previously around firearms), You might change your mind. This guy had no business being an LEO.
Yes, of course. Excellent point.
Have you seen the video? Link
For the 7 minutes prior to the police arrival the kid is wandering around playing with the gun. There was nobody else in the park. Nobody being threatened. Then the police show up at about the 7:10 mark and at 7:13 the kid is shot and on the ground. Three seconds. Three seconds it took for the officer to shoot the kid. How do you issue a warning or try and defuse the situation or even determine if there is any threat in three freakin' seconds?
I think this cop had been fired from another force.