24 Nov 2014

Ohio shooting 911 call: boy, 12, probably had ‘fake’ gun

Audio released of the 911 call made to US police records the caller saying that the gun being waved around by 12-year-old Tamir Rice is “probably fake”.

Rice, who was identified by the county medical examiner’s office, was shot in the abdomen by a city officer at a playground in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday, said Timothy Kucharski, lawyer for the boy’s family.

According to the recording of a 911 call, a witness at the Cudell Recreation Center park told the police dispatcher that he saw somebody with a “probably fake” pistol and he was pointing it at people.

Listen to the call here:

Fake weapon

Deputy Chief Ed Tomba said the officer fired twice after the boy pulled the fake weapon – which was lacking the orange safety indicator usually on the muzzle – from his waistband.

The boy did not make any verbal threats toward the officer or point the gun, but reached into his waistband and grabbed it after being told to raise his hands, Mr Tomba said.

“That’s when the officer fired,” he said. “The suspect did not comply with the officers’ orders and reached to his waistband for the gun. Shots were fired and the suspect was struck in the torso,” the official said, adding that the boy later died of his injuries in hospital.

The two officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave.