CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland police say an officer was less than 10 feet away when he fatally shot a 12-year-old boy who had what turned out to be a replica gun.
They say the replica that Tamir Rice was carrying near a playground on Saturday was missing an orange safety indicator and appeared indistinguishable from a real firearm.
Police were responding to a 911 call about someone with a weapon.
The 911 caller indicated the gun was “probably fake.” Deputy Chief Edward Tomba says he doesn’t know whether a dispatcher told responding officers that.
Tomba says surveillance video of the shooting is “very clear” about what occurred.
Police say people representing the boy’s family viewed the video Monday. Police aren’t yet releasing the video, and Tomba wouldn’t discuss what it shows.
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(Photo Source: AP)
