Police Officer Shoots 12-Year-Old Boy Carrying BB Gun

A Cleveland police officer shot a 12-year-old boy (not pictured) outside a city recreation center late Saturday afternoon after the boy pulled a BB gun from his waistband, according to police.

A relative of the boy is seen crying on the ground after hearing of the shooting

There were reports of a male with a gun at about 3:30 p.m. which police responded to. A 911 caller told the dispatcher, “I’m sitting in the park…there’s a guy in here with a pistol, and it’s probably a fake one, but he’s pointing it at everybody.:

“The guy keeps pulling it in and out…it’s probably fake, but he’s scaring the s*** out of people,” he added.

Cleveland.com reports that 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.

When the officer got out of the car, he told the boy to put his hands up.

That’s when the boy reached into his waistband, pulled out the BB gun and the rookie officer fired two shots, Tomba said.

According to Tomba, the child did not threaten the officer verbally or physically. The weapon was not pointed at police officers.

The child was shot in the stomach and transported to a local hospital. He’s listed in serious condition.

“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.”

“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.”

According to 19 Action News, police say the weapon was an “airsoft” type replica gun, resembling a semi-automatic pistol, with the orange safety indicator removed.

Watch:
19 Action News|Cleveland, OH|News, Weather, Sports

H/T: The incomparable @CarlaAkins with thanks.

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