UPDATE 10:40 AM EST:
According to Cleveland.com, the 12-year-old boy who was shot yesterday afternoon by a police officer, has died. The news was confirmed by a police union official, revealing that due to a stomach injury he suffered his condition deteriorated overnight, causing him to die this morning.
The rookie officer and the veteran officer have both been placed on administrative leave pending an ongoing investigation. We will keep you updated on this tragic story.
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2014 hasn’t been a great year for America’s law enforcement. No, not at all.
On Saturday afternoon, a rookie police officer in Cleveland, Ohio shot a 12-year-old boy outside of a recreational center after the boy was seen pulling a BB gun from his waist.
Cleveland.com reports:
Police were responding to reports of a male with a gun outside Cudell Recreation Center at Detroit Avenue and West Boulevard about 3:30 p.m., Deputy Chief of Field Operations Ed Tomba said.
A rookie officer and a 10-15 year veteran pulled into the parking lot and saw a few people sitting underneath a pavilion next to the center. The rookie officer saw a black gun sitting on the table, and he saw the boy pick up the gun and put it in his waistband, Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President Jeffrey Follmer said.
The officer got out of the car and told the boy to put his hands up. The boy reached into his waistband, pulled out the gun and the rookie officer fired two shots, Tomba said.
Tomba stated that the child never threatened the police officer in any physical or verbal way.
One of the two shots the officer fired went into the child’s stomach. The child was immediately rushed to a local hospital in serious condition.
We pray for the victim and his family.
SOURCE: Cleveland.com | PHOTO & VIDEO CREDIT: Getty, NDN
