American police kill 12-year-old boy carrying BB gun

The victim was spotted waving a BB gun in an Ohio playground last Saturday. Police fired at him twice after he pulled the fake pistol out.

17:38 24 November 2014

A 12-year-old boy in Ohio, United States, was shot twice by a police officer. The policeman opened fire after the boy pulled a BB gun from his waistband.

According to reports, Tamir was seen waving a BB gun around in a local playground last Saturday prompting a witness to make a 911 call. A concerned man told the dispatcher that it was a “probably fake gun.” When Tamir pulled the fake pistol from waistband, the police fired at him twice. He passed away in hospital on Sunday.

The devastated father of the victim, Gregory Henderson, said that the youngster had his whole life ahead of him when he was gunned down outside Cudell Recreation Centre. He also blamed the police for the incident.

'Who would've thought he would go so soon? He had his whole life ahead. To be 12 years old, he doesn't know what he's doing. Police, they know what they're doing.'

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Follmer, the president of the Police Patrolmen’s Association said that Tamir was asked by two Cleveland Police officers to put his hands up. At which point, the youngster reached into his waistband and pulled out the pistol.

Investigation into the incident is already underway and officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.