Video: Cops Shot, Killed 12-Year-Old Two Seconds After Arriving at Park
Authorities released video this afternoon of a police officer fatally shooting 12-year-old Tamir Rice this weekend in a Cleveland park. In the video, you can see police opening fire at Rice, who was carrying an airsoft gun, within two seconds of arriving on the scene.
The shooting took place Saturday afternoon at Cudell Recreation Center. Apparently, a concerned citizen spotted Rice with the toy and called 911.
"The guy keeps pulling it out," the 911 caller said, according to WKYC. "It's probably fake, but you know what, he's scaring the (expletive) out of (inaudible). ... He's sitting on the swing right now, but he keeps pulling it in and out of his pants and pointing it at people. Probably a juvenile, you know? … I don't know if it's real or not, you know?"
Officers claim they asked Rice to put his hands up and he didn't comply. In the video above, the police car comes to a stop at 0:19, and by 0:21 the boy is already doubled over and falling to the ground, mortally wounded. Rice was rushed to the hospital, where he died Sunday morning.
Yesterday, Rice's family released a statement:
"We feel the actions of the patrol officer who took our son's life must be made public. It is our prayer and request for citizens in the City of Cleveland and throughout Northeast Ohio to remain calm at this time. We ask for the public to demonstrate peacefully."