[Pearls Before Swine]

After spotting the boy, the deputies called for backup and repeatedly ordered him to drop the gun...

And, to continue, he didn't respond because he didn't think what he was carrying was a gun. It was a replica. "You talkin' to me?"

[DonaldC]

Or the kid just froze. I can see that happening. Maybe law enforcement needs to have the same rules of engagement our military had in Iraq, they cannot fire unless fired at first and then not without permission from central command.