Police fatally shot Cleveland boy seconds after arriving on scene

CLEVELAND, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Police released a video showing the moment police officers fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was holding an air gun at a Cleveland park.

Before police arrive, Tamir can be seen walking around the Cudell Recreation Center, holding the airsoft gun.

When the patrol car pulls up, Officer Timothy Loehman, 26, who had been on the force since March, yelled three times for for Tamir to show his hands.

Police say Tamir went for the gun -- on the video, his movement is circled in red -- and Loehman jumped out of the car and shot him, hitting him twice in the abdomen. His partner, Frank Garmback, 46, stayed at the wheel until after Tamir was shot, then jumped out of his seat.

Police were responding to a 911 call from a bystander reporting a "guy with a gun pointing it at people."

"It's probably fake, but you know what, he's scaring the [expletive] out of everyone... He's sitting on the swing right now, but he keeps pulling it in and out of his pants and pointing it at people. Probably a juvenile, you know? ... I don't know if it's real or not, you know?"

Tamir's parents, Samaria Rice and Leonard Warner, saw the video and advocated for its release.

"We feel the actions of the patrol officer who took our son's life must be made public. It is our prayer and request for citizens in the city of Cleveland and throughout Northeast Ohio to remain calm at this time. We ask for the public to demonstrate peacefully."

Deputy Chief Ed Tomba said the video's release was not meant to place blame on either Tamir or Loehman.

"This is not an effort to exonerate, it's not an effort to show the public that anybody did anything wrong," Tomba said. "This is a tragic event."

A grand jury will examine the evidence and determine whether to indict Loehman, and both officers have been placed on administrative leave. Meanwhile, the shooting has prompted calls for Cleveland police to begin wearing body cameras.

State Rep. Alice Reece of Cincinnati announced legislation to require all BB guns, air rifles and Airsoft guns sold in the state to be brightly colored or marked with florescent strips to avoid confusion.