Police release video, names of officers in shooting of 12-year-old boy

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Authorities released surveillance video Wednesday of the officer-involved shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland, FOX 8 reports.

Rice was shot in the playground area of the Cudell Recreation Center around 3:30 p.m. Saturday.  Police received a call that a male had a gun near the swings and was waving it at people.

When the two officers arrived, they allegedly ordered Rice to put his hands in the air; instead he reached for what they believed was a gun in his waistband and that’s when the officer fired two shots.

The gun ended up being an airsoft but it looked like a real gun, police officials have said.  The orange safety tab had been removed from the gun.

“The officers are distraught,” said Jeff Follmer, president of the police union.  “They immediately started first aid and stayed with him until paramedics arrived.  No one wants to use deadly force.”

**Warning: Below is the surveillance video that was released by Cleveland police at the request of Tamir’s family. We are not showing the shooting out of respect to Tamir’s family. Some may still find the video to be disturbing.**



Police also played the 911 call and police radio traffic from the shooting. The names of the officers involved were also release. They are currently on paid leave while an investigation into the shooting takes place.

The officer that fired the gun had been with the department for less than a year.  He was with his training officer, a seven-year veteran of the force

For more on this story, click here.