Family: Boy’s fatal shooting could have been avoided
CLEVELAND (AP) — The family of a 12-year-old boy fatally wounded by a Cleveland police officer said surveillance video of the shooting shows that if the officer had not acted so quickly the youngster would still be alive.
The video made public on Wednesday shows Tamir Rice being shot within 1½ to 2 seconds of a patrol car stopping near him at a park in Cleveland on Saturday. It shows the boy reaching in his waistband for what police discovered was a pellet gun that shoots non-lethal plastic projectiles. He died the next day.
Tamir’s family said in a statement released by their attorneys that they hope Cleveland police and Cuyahoga County prosecutors “thoroughly examine” what happened at the park that day.
“It is our belief that this situation could have been avoided and that Tamir should still be here with us,” said the family. “The video shows one thing distinctly: the police officers reacted quickly.” SOURCE
Yes indeed, this shooting could have been avoided and in all probability sweet little Tamir would be at home having Thanksgiving dinner with his wonderful family … IF, and I stress IF that wonderful family had only taught this wonderful child one thing; don’t pull a gun on a Police Officer, real gun, fake gun, whatever the case may be, if you pull something that LOOKS like a gun you are, once again, in all probability, going to get your ticket to hell punched for *the fast lane*.
This still image taken from a surveillance video played at a news conference held by Cleveland Police, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014, shows Cleveland police officers arriving at Cudell Park on a report of a man with a gun. Twelve-year-old Tamir Rice was fatally shot by a Cleveland police officer Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, after he reportedly pulled a replica gun at the city park. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
The Rice family says the Officer fired too soon, they say he fired in 2 seconds of arrival, and that is probably the truth, the 2 seconds part that is, you see, if you’re faced with an individual that is carrying a gun and said individual is obviously reaching for that gun, if YOUR reactions are not fast enough then YOU may well be the one that’s shot, maybe dead and never going home to your family.
I know guns pretty well and I have to say this; if confronted by some ass-clown putting his hand on what looks like a very real gun, and this gun looks incredibly real, that ass-clown will be shot. That’s the way it goes, that is how the game gets played, and a game is what so many of these kids think life is at Tamir’s age.
What they don’t realize is this; in real life, there’s no reset button.
This fake handgun taken from 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was fatally shot by Cleveland police over the weekend, is displayed after a news conference Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014. The 12-year-old was shot at a city park after he reportedly pulled the Colt 1911 replica on arriving officers. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
I am sorry for the loss the Rice family has suffered; I truly am, but that loss was due to a conscious decision made by their child. He engaged in a deadly game and he lost.
Thank God the Officers involved weren’t hurt, I hope their Department and the citizens of Cleveland see it this way and to the Officers I say; hold your head up with pride, enjoy your families on this day and all days to come, sleep well in knowing that YOU did your job in the manner in which you were trained and you did it well.
It’s on Fox News as I type this.
A righteous shoot it is.
I have one of these guns which I use to “Show and Tell” new police officers.
They look like the real thing!
And held in the hand of a nig and pointing it at responding Cops, will get you shot by cops every time. ahem,,,,every time.
Sorry kid, but your parents should of corrected this future nig gang banger looter.
So,,,, what would I have done,,,,I(f the kid failed to follow my instructions, and then pointed this “GUN” at me,,, I would of placed several rounds from my service weapon into the chest cavity. Period,,,,with absolutely no remorse.
Next question please,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I have a BB pistol that looks like a 1911 commander length 45. There’s no way you can tell it from a real 1911 unless you’re quite close and have the time to give it a good look over.
I can’t find in any article where the kid got the gun.
When I was a kid, we played with real looking guns all the time. Many were cap guns which would shoot sparks out of the barrel. Unfortunately, times have changed since the 60’s and nowadays, people see kids with guns which they don’t know are fake or real so they call the cops. Nowadays, 12 year old kids have taken real guns and killed others as in this article. Age doesn’t matter any more.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/cops-id-12-year-old-gunman-sparks-middle-school-shooting-nevada-article-1.1496283
From a post over at AT, it’s a toss up between the ex and live- in as to will knock off the kid’s mother as to final domestic abuse.
I really wish I had a clue into what you’re talking about… Really..
Look, I don’t know who was minding the kid for twelve years. They missed a day though.
Gotcha! Thanks my friend..
If you’re pulling a gun (even the fake ones) on the police, you’ll get shot! Plain and simple; I don’t understand why people aren’t getting that. I swear, common sense, is getting less, and less common.
I get memories here from time to time. Now about fake guns resembling the real thing. My grandfather was a gunsmith in Eupora, Kilmichael and Winona MS in late 1800s ’til the 1940s. We had defective handguns in the house which he didn’t or couldn’t repair and we played with at home and in back yard. We’d just shoot Nazis and N.K. Commies according to G.I. Joe and Blackhawk comics (Blackhawk my favorite comic). Even then we never thought about taking them out in the neighborhood. My favorite was a German Mauser pistol. Just now was wondering about it and Googled pictures.
It was the Model 1910 because of it’s straight grip handle. Never knew that ’til now. It disappeared though probably being picked up by a ‘friend’ I think. Probably the guy who made me pay a silver dime to leave the school yard each day about ’52. One day he followed me home and stole my watch, I know because his older brother made him bring my watch back.
Anyway knew better than play guns around police or others. It was just sensewise.
Much fuss is made over the age of the kid being 12; but, at that age my sons were about 6 foot tall and they weighed about 180 lbs.
In other words, they were about the size of the average adult male.
Some one that size with a possible gun is a distinct threat.