U.S. Police Kill 12-Year-Old Boy Carrying Toy Gun

Two police officers in Cleveland, Ohio, shot and killed a 12-year-old African American boy who was carrying a toy gun. Both officers have been placed on administrative leave, and an investigation has been initiated. The police shot the boy twice on December 2, with at least one bullet striking him in the abdomen. This incident follows a similar shooting in August in Ohio, where a Black citizen was killed while carrying a toy gun in a Walmart store. The recent shooting occurs amid protests in Ferguson, Missouri, following the death of Michael Brown, an African American citizen, at the hands of police. CNN reports that the lawyers for the Cleveland boy stated that the shooting was not racially motivated; 'It’s not a black and white issue, but a matter of right and wrong.' Before the shooting, someone had called emergency services, stating, 'There’s someone with a gun there. You know! It’s probably fake. But he’s pointing it at people.' According to the police statement, upon arrival, officers asked the boy to raise his hands. However, the boy allegedly did not comply and attempted to pull the gun from his waistband. The police also stated that the orange tip indicating the gun was a toy had been removed from the barrel. The weapon was described as a replica of a semi-automatic handgun. Reports indicate that one of the police officers involved was in his first year of service. In response to the August events and the latest shooting, an Ohio state representative has proposed legislation to require toy guns to be produced in bright colors or to have fluorescent tape.