CLEVELAND (AP) – A third expert on police use of force concludes that a white Cleveland policeman was justified in fatally shooting a 12-year-old black boy carrying a pellet gun.
The report by a retired Florida police officer was released Thursday by the county prosecutor in Cleveland. It comes as a grand jury hears evidence on whether patrolman Timothy Loehmann should be charged criminally for killing Tamir Rice outside a recreation center last November.
The Florida ex-officer says Loehmann perceived a threat when he fired and his actions were reasonable given the circumstances.
Two other use-of-force experts hired by prosecutors also concluded that the shooting was justified.
Attorneys for Tamir’s family have said the release of the reports is improper and have called for a special prosecutor to take over the case.