Posted on 10/10/2015 10:56:02 PM PDT by Mariner
OLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A white Cleveland police officer was justified in fatally shooting a black 12-year-old boy holding a pellet gun moments after pulling up beside him, according to two outside reviews conducted at the request of the prosecutor investigating the death.
A retired FBI agent and a Denver prosecutor both found the rookie patrolman who shot Tamir Rice exercised a reasonable use of force because he had reason to perceive the boy - described in a 911 call as man waving and pointing a gun - as a serious threat.
The reports were released Saturday night by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, which asked for the outside reviews as it presents evidence to a grand jury that will determine whether Timothy Loehmann will be charged in Tamir's death last November.
"We are not reaching any conclusions from these reports," Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said in a statement. "The gathering of evidence continues, and the grand jury will evaluate it all."
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Correction: apparently it was an Airsoft gun that had the orange muzzle piece removed. I had read that it was a metallic pellet gun, but that was incorrect.
Pigs.
There were some robberies in Seattle that made the news. Over several nights. “There were three of them - one of them had a gun. When they ran off I heard gun shots” All three different people (different nights) said the same thing. I’m guessing it was a cap gun or a starter’s pistol.
One can only hope that a CCW holder sets them straight.
Yeah, these good natured urban scamps, just a bit of innocent horseplay...that causes bystanders to call 911.
He was what 12?
Don’t be ridiculous
It reminds me of the black man with his kids in Wal Mart shot while handling a pellet or bb pistol
I don’t recall this many bad kills in pre Glock days in my youth
60s
little fellow was 5'7" 195 lbs, in the autopsy report.
I'd rather they demand "Hands up, drop the weapon!". Just seems there are too many reports of people shot dead holding a cane, umbrella, garden hose, hand drill, pickle (well, maybe not a pickle)... I hate that cops automatically shoot to kill now. That stance is making people want to take out cops and make them dead. I think they need to revise their procedures, as it would seem to many that they're out to kill and not necessarily protect the public.
Then the only remaining question is: Was it so obvious that it was a Pellet Gun that every juror will agree it was negligent or malicious to shoot the kid?
They did shoot pretty quickly, and it looked like the kid had his hands at his waist when the cops came. I have no problem with the idea that the cops may have acted improperly, but the idea that this was a clear-cut murder is ludicrous. I’m more bothered by the use of 911 to parent unruly kids. And i don’t believe defense witnesses from No Snitch neighborhoods.
Funny thing is i bought the same pellet gun the 22y.o.man in the Wal-mart had, a Crosman MK-177. What i want to know is why he took it out of the box it comes in? And was in the pet section, pumping it.
“I’d rather they demand “Hands up, drop the weapon!”.”
It happened in a matter of seconds. Police car pulls up to kid, kid pulls up front of sweatshirt, gets shot. Can’t tell what, if anything, was said.
“What i want to know is why he took it out of the box it comes in? And was in the pet section, pumping it.”
He just wanted to look dangerous for a while. He got his wish.
The real questions should be (1) when will Cleveland have neighborhood police patrols, so police aren't racing in from babysitting down-town tourists or whatever and (2) who gave Tamir that real-enough looking gun and (3) why the youths nearby (like his sister) didn't stop Tamir from waving that "toy" around and pointing it at people
Meanwhile, the "black lives matter" mentality has lead to a horrific increase in the murder rate in Cleveland, mainly on the east side.
In Cleveland, the problem was and still is that there's not enough neighborhood policing. The residents are trying to address that. But the narrative and outsiders with an agenda keep getting in the way.
JMHO
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