CLEVELAND, Ohio – A 12-year-old boy has been fatally shot by Cleveland police after brandishing what turned out to be a replica gun, prompting a legislator to call for such fakes to be brightly colored.
According to police, an orange safety indicator had been removed on the replica gun Tamir Rice pulled from his waistband before being shot and killed by an officer Saturday.
State Rep. Alicia Reece says she’ll introduce a bill to require BB guns, air rifles and airsoft guns sold in Ohio to be brightly colored or have prominent fluorescent strips.
Tamir Rice died from his wounds Sunday, a day after officers responded to a 911 call about someone waving a “probably fake” gun at a playground.
A man who called 911 told dispatchers that the boy was at a recreation center pointing a pistol that was “probably fake” and scaring everyone.
One officer fired twice after the boy pulled the fake weapon from his waistband but had not pointed it at police, Deputy Chief Ed Tomba said. It was an “airsoft” type replica that resembled a semi-automatic handgun.
Investigators say the boy did not point the fake pistol at officers but reached for it after being told to raise his hands.