No TOY guns have the colored tips. A pellet gun is not a toy or “harmless” like I have seen in other news reports on this incident.
The liberal media would not be reporting it that way if it involved a Tea Party member, adult or juvenile (who brandished a pellet gun after assaulting someone and was shot only after repeatedly being ordered by Police to drop it instead pointed it at them).
Then it would be about the violent culture of his group (Tea Party) and the lawlessness that group is bringing to American society. And how a violent member of that group brought about his own death.
In NJ, that is considered a handgun. Firearms ID required, and handgun purchase permit required.