A Cleveland officer shot a 12-year-old from less than 10 feet away because he was carrying a pellet gun near a playground, according to Cleveland.com.
In a 911 call, a witness says the gun is "probably fake," Cleveland.com reported. The caller said the person was scaring people.
"A guy with a gun was pointing it at people" said the 911 caller, who also said the person wielding the gun was near the swing set in Cudell Commons park, outside the Cudell Recreation Center, according to Cleveland.com.
Police dispatchers radioed to officers that there was "a male with a gun threatening people" outside the rec center, Cleveland.com reported. They responded and saw the boy pick up what they thought was a black gun, tuck it in his waistband and take a few steps.
Tamir Rice was confronted Saturday by officers responding to a 911 call about a male who appeared to be pulling a gun in and out of his pants, Breaitbart.com reported.
Authorities said the boy was told to raise his hands and was shot when he pulled the pellet gun from his waistband, though he hadn't pointed it at police or made verbal threats, CNN reported.
Police say Rice, who died Sunday after being shot, had an "airsoft" gun that lacked the markings to distinguish it from a real gun, leading police to believe the gun was real, but they never got the chance to check, according to Breitbart.com.
Deputy Chief Edward Tomba said Monday that he didn't know whether a dispatcher shared that information with responding officers, CNN reported. Tomba added that surveillance video of the shooting is "very clear" about what occurred, but did not elaborate.
"Our officers at times are required to make critical decisions in a split second," Chief Calvin Williams said, according to CNN. "Unfortunately this is one of those times."
An investigation into the shooting is underway to determine whether the officers in question used excessive force, Breitbart.com reported. After the investigation is complete, the case will be presented to a grand jury to decide whether any criminal charges should be brought.
The two officers involved in the shooting were put on administrative leave under standard procedure but police haven't publicly identified them, according to CNN.
