Two Reports Conclude Officer's Shooting of Tamir Rice Was Justified
- 9 years ago
The Ohio prosecutor gathering evidence in the death of Tamir Rice by a Cleveland police officer released two reports Saturday that conclude the officer was justified in shooting the 12-year-old.
The reports, conducted by a retired FBI agent and a prosecutor in Denver, say Officer Timothy Loehmann acted reasonably under the law when he shot Tamir, who was holding a pellet gun that police say resembled a handgun, on Nov. 22.
"We are not reaching any conclusions from these reports," Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said in a statement.
"The gathering of evidence continues and the grand jury will evaluate it all."
Tamir's death sparked protests in Cleveland and was held up as an example of what some feel are heavy-handed tactics used by police against minorities.
Tamir's family has filed a federal lawsuit against Loehmann and the officer he was with, Frank Garmback.
The suit claims excessive force.
The reports, conducted by a retired FBI agent and a prosecutor in Denver, say Officer Timothy Loehmann acted reasonably under the law when he shot Tamir, who was holding a pellet gun that police say resembled a handgun, on Nov. 22.
"We are not reaching any conclusions from these reports," Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said in a statement.
"The gathering of evidence continues and the grand jury will evaluate it all."
Tamir's death sparked protests in Cleveland and was held up as an example of what some feel are heavy-handed tactics used by police against minorities.
Tamir's family has filed a federal lawsuit against Loehmann and the officer he was with, Frank Garmback.
The suit claims excessive force.