Cleveland police officer shoots 12-year-old boy carrying BB gun

[sirkeelma]

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A rookie Cleveland police officer shot a 12-year-old boy outside a city recreation center late Saturday afternoon after the boy pulled a BB gun from his waistband, police said.

Police were responding to reports of a male with a gun outside Cudell Recreation Center at Detroit Avenue and West Boulevard about 3:30 p.m., Deputy Chief of Field Operations Ed Tomba said.

A rookie officer and a 10-15 year veteran pulled into the parking lot and saw a few people sitting underneath a pavilion next to the center. The rookie officer saw a black gun sitting on the table, and he saw the boy pick up the gun and put it in his waistband, Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association President Jeffrey Follmer said.

The officer got out of the car and told the boy to put his hands up. The boy reached into his waistband, pulled out the gun and the rookie officer fired two shots, Tomba said.

Tomba said the child did not threaten the officer verbally or physically.

At least one of the shots hit the child in the stomach. He was rushed to MetroHealth Medical Center in serious condition. His current condition was not immediately known.

As a handful of community activists shouted obscenities from behind a group of reporters, Tomba said the incident was "very, very tragic."

"We don't come to work everyday and want to use force on anybody," Tomba said. "That's not what our job is. We're part of this community."

The department's use of deadly force investigation team, made up of officers from the homicide and internal affairs units, members of the city's Office of Professional Standards and the city and Cuyahoga County prosecutors office, will determine if the officer was justified in shooting the boy.

Tomba promised the investigation would be open.

"When an officer gives a command, we expect it to be followed," Tomba said. "The way it looks like right now, it wasn't followed, but we're going to continue our investigation."

The shooting comes as the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the department to determine if it regularly uses excessive force against its citizens.

Northeast Ohio Media Group will continue to update this story.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index...r_shoot_6.html

Problem is there are enough crazy 12 year olds with worthless parents out there that would allow them to be thugs and carry the real thing. Tough for a cop to know if it's real or fake especially if he is not following commands. Can't blame the cop.

[dunksby]

His TO is gonna be in a big hole because of this although it's a tricky situation. A 12-year old is strong enough to aim steadily and squeeze the trigger so when he goes for his waistband there is not much you can do.

[cuad]

The officer got out of the car and told the boy to put his hands up. Instead, the boy reached into his waistband and pulled out the gun.

What a stupid kid. Hope he dies.

[oh the horror]

Yeah this is just a crummy situation. Kid reached into his waistband after the officer gives the command. What else can the officer do here?

[Bandito]

I would've done the same thing. Kids are crazy these days.

[TheMan]

They don't mention any of the involved parties race...gon' get ugly if it's a white cop/black kid situation. Cop was in a shitty spot, kids are capable of some horrible shit nowadays

[TheMan]

What a stupid kid. Hope he dies.

Da fuq is wrong with you, kid is 12 and it was a BB gun and he wasn't doing anything wrong unless BB guns are know considered deadly weapons

[STATUTORY]

Da fuq is wrong with you, kid is 12 and it was a BB gun and he wasn't doing anything wrong unless BB guns are know considered deadly weapons

[Asukal]

Da fuq is wrong with you, kid is 12 and it was a BB gun and he wasn't doing anything wrong unless BB guns are know considered deadly weapons

I don't know who is more stupid, the kid or you.

[PistonsFan#21]

What a stupid kid. Hope he dies.

most 12 year old kids are stupid and immature. Doesnt mean they deserve to die over a dumb mistake they made.

He was probably playing out a movie he seen on TV with his fake BB gun and real life cops and dint know his life was in danger

[PleezeBelieve]

Of course the kid put his hand to his waistband

Why didn't the other officer fire? I'm assuming he was right there as well.

[PleezeBelieve]

Kid has died

Caller who phoned 911 told dispatcher the gun was "probably" fake

Caller also said the kid was clearly a juvenile

Dispatcher never told the cops any of this

Again, why didn't the other cop fire???

This is about to be another huge story once the races of those involved are released

[Akrazotile]

They don't mention any of the involved parties race...

Then it probably isnt:

a white cop/black kid situation.

[ace23]

Why is this news

[Kblaze8855]

This one....you can kinda understand. Ive seen plenty of BB guns that just look like guns. They make them that way on purpose. Not like all BB guns are bright pink and toy like.