The Cleveland police officer who shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice on November 22 had no choice but to shoot the child, according to the officer’s father.
Rookie Tim Loehmann shot and killed Tamir as he outside playing with a pellet gun. A surveillance video shows Loehmann and another officer, Frank Garmback, pulling up to the scene and immediately shooting the child, who allegedly reached in his waistband for what turned out to be a pellet gun.
According to his father, Fred Loehmann, the officer did not know how old the boy was. He recalled his son saying:
“I was right there and he went for the gun. I had no choice.”
Loehmann joined Cleveland police in March after spending several months with the department in suburban Independence. He is described as a quiet, respectful man who grew up in Catholic schools and was trying to follow in his law enforcement father’s footsteps.
Fred Loehmann said initially his son was in shock, but is now doing pretty well.
“He’s living his life,” the father said. However, the family has received threats since police publicly identified the officers involved, he said.
The city of Cleveland has not released statements taken from Loehmann and his police partner Garmback, or their personal files. The police department is investigating the officer’s use of deadly force and the case will be presented before a grand jury to decide if Loehmann should be indicted.
The shooting of Tamir Rice is the second time in four months that Ohio police have shot and killed an individual for holding a fake gun in an open carry state.
In August, police fatally shot 22-year-old John Crawford III in a Walmart after a witness called to report the young man was carrying a gun. A grand jury decided not to indict the officers involved.
Rice’s funeral will be held on Wednesday.
SOURCE: Associated Press | PHOTO CREDIT: Screenshot
