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Tamir Rice case: Police not to face charges over killing | Tamir Rice case: Police not to face charges over killing |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A US grand jury has decided not to bring charges against a white policeman over the killing of a 12-year-old black boy armed with a toy gun. | A US grand jury has decided not to bring charges against a white policeman over the killing of a 12-year-old black boy armed with a toy gun. |
A local prosecutor in Ohio state, Tim McGinty, called the events that led to the death of Tamir Rice a "perfect storm of human error". | A local prosecutor in Ohio state, Tim McGinty, called the events that led to the death of Tamir Rice a "perfect storm of human error". |
But he said it was not unreasonable for the officer to fear for his life. | But he said it was not unreasonable for the officer to fear for his life. |
Public officials in Cleveland on Monday urged the public to remain calm and to protest peacefully. | Public officials in Cleveland on Monday urged the public to remain calm and to protest peacefully. |
State Senator Sandra Williams said any unrest would hamper progress but still called the decision a "grave miscarriage of justice". | State Senator Sandra Williams said any unrest would hamper progress but still called the decision a "grave miscarriage of justice". |
The announcement comes at a time when the deaths of black men at the hands of police have sparked a national debate. | The announcement comes at a time when the deaths of black men at the hands of police have sparked a national debate. |
Rice was carrying a non-lethal pellet gun when police approached him in Cleveland in November 2014, in response to a 911 call reporting a man waving and pointing a gun at people. | Rice was carrying a non-lethal pellet gun when police approached him in Cleveland in November 2014, in response to a 911 call reporting a man waving and pointing a gun at people. |
The caller said the gun might not be real and the perpetrator could be a juvenile. | |
Mr McGinty, who announced the grand jury's decision on Monday, faulted the emergency services dispatcher for not relaying that information to police. | Mr McGinty, who announced the grand jury's decision on Monday, faulted the emergency services dispatcher for not relaying that information to police. |
Officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback have said the gun looked real and urged Rice to raise his hands three times. | Officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback have said the gun looked real and urged Rice to raise his hands three times. |
Mr Loehmann shot Rice twice after the boy pulled the gun from his waistband. | Mr Loehmann shot Rice twice after the boy pulled the gun from his waistband. |
The officers said they believed Rice was older than 12. He weighed about 175lbs (79kg) and stood 5ft 7in (1.7m) tall. | The officers said they believed Rice was older than 12. He weighed about 175lbs (79kg) and stood 5ft 7in (1.7m) tall. |
The toy gun lacked an orange safety tip and Mr McGinty urged toy manufacturers to stop making replicas that look like real guns. | |
The Rice family have said police fired too quickly and should have used a Taser, a non-lethal weapon. | The Rice family have said police fired too quickly and should have used a Taser, a non-lethal weapon. |
Footage from a surveillance camera shows Mr Loehmann firing moments after police arrived at the scene. | Footage from a surveillance camera shows Mr Loehmann firing moments after police arrived at the scene. |
Although the officers' actions were not criminal, Mr McGinty said Cleveland had learned from the shooting. | Although the officers' actions were not criminal, Mr McGinty said Cleveland had learned from the shooting. |
"It should never happen again, and the city has taken steps so it doesn't,'' Mr McGinty said. | "It should never happen again, and the city has taken steps so it doesn't,'' Mr McGinty said. |