CLEVELAND - A 12-year-old boy shot by a Cleveland Police officer at a west side recreation center has died.
Cleveland Police Patrolman Association president Jeff Follmer said the boy died at the hospital early Sunday morning.
The Cleveland Division of Police Use of Deadly Force Investigation Team is investigating the officer-involved shooting that happened on Saturday at about 3:30 p.m. at Cudell Recreation Center.
Officers responded to the center for reports of a male with a gun. Police said witnesses reported that a male in the playground area was waiving a gun and pointing it at people.
A 9-1-1 call to emergency dispatchers has been obtained by ABC15 sister station newsnet5 and the caller states a child is "pulling a gun in and out of his pants and pointing it at people."
The caller goes on to say, "It's probably fake."
The man described the child as black, wearing a camouflage hat and a grey jacket with black sleeves.
Police said when they arrived, they located the suspect and advised him to raise his hands.
The suspect did not follow officer?s orders and then reached to his waist for the gun, according to police.
Officers then shot the 12-year-old boy in the torso.
Police say the suspect was in possession of an ?airsoft? type replica gun which resembles a semi-automatic pistol.
The toy gun had the orange safety indicator removed, according to police.
The 12-year-old was transported to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he later died.
One officer was transported to Fairview Hospital for treatment for an ankle injury.
Two officers involved will be placed on administrative leave, which is protocol in officer-involved shooting incidents.
full article...