A white Ohio policeman responding to reports of an armed robbery fatally shot a 13-year-old black boy after he pulled out what appeared to be a weapon that was later determined to be a BB gun, police said on Thursday.
Tyre King was shot multiple times in an alley when he drew what appeared to be a handgun from his waistband during a confrontation with officers on Wednesday in Columbus, the state capital, police said.
“We consider it a tragedy when something like this happens,” Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs said at a news conference. “This is the last thing any police officer wants.”
Jacobs identified the officer who shot King as Bryan Mason, a nine-year veteran. Mason was placed on temporary administrative duty, pending an internal investigation. Police identified the victim as Tyree King.
The family said in a statement released by a Columbus law firm that it retained to investigate the shooting that “numerous witness accounts are in direct conflict with the officer’s version of events.”
The family also said reports of King’s actions before the shooting were allegations only at this point and called for an independent investigation.
“The family is obviously distraught by the murder of Tyre,” attorney Chanda L. Brown said in the statement, which described Tyre as a typical 13-year-old boy who was active in football, soccer, hockey and gymnastics. “They are shocked and indicate the actions described by the police are out of his normal character.”