A Cleveland area BB gun police shooting by a rookie cop has turned into a fatality after a 12-year-old who was carrying the toy replica has died.
Via Cleveland.com
The boy, whose name has not been officially released, was shot in the stomach at Cudell Recreation Center, at Detroit Avenue and West Boulevard, about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.
He was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in serious condition, EMS officials said. Throughout the night his condition deteriorated and he died early Sunday, Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association president Jeff Follmer said.
The shooting came after a man at the park adjacent to the rec center called police when he saw “a guy with a gun pointing it at people.”
The caller twice said the gun was “probably fake” and told dispatchers the person pulling the gun from his waistband was “probably a juvenile,” according to audio released by police officials late Saturday
According to Deputy Chief Ed Tomba, the boy did neither point the toy weapon at the officers or engage into any verbal confrontation.
The officer who fired the fatal shot is now on paid administrative leave. A series of internal investigations are currently being conducted.
Hit the next pages below to see photos of the airsoft toy gun and the crime scene.
—
Photos: Action19News
