Cops defend killing of 12-year-old Cleveland boy

John P. Coyne and Kantele Franko, Associated Press





Police say Tamir Rice, who died Sunday, had an airsoft gun that appeared indistinguishable from a real firearm. Airsoft guns fire spherical plastic pellets and have orange tips to show they aren't real firearms, but police said the one the boy had didn't have the bright safety indicator.


"Our officers, at times, are required to make critical decisions in a split second," Chief Calvin Williams said. "Unfortunately, this is one of those times."


People representing the boy's family viewed the video Monday, but police didn't release it publicly because it is evidence in the investigation and because they want to be sensitive to the family, the community and the officer, who is distraught, officials said.




An attorney for the boy's family, Timothy Kucharski, has said Tamir went to the park with friends Saturday afternoon, but he did not know the details of what led to his shooting. Kucharski said he wants to talk to witnesses himself and get more facts.