CLEVELAND (AP) – A Cleveland policeman who fatally shot a 12-year-old thought the boy’s pellet gun was a real firearm and later said he had no choice, the officer’s father said.
The Nov. 22 shooting of Tamir Rice by 26-year-old police rookie Tim Loehmann outside a recreation center sparked protests in the area. Surveillance video shows Loehmann firing within two seconds of a patrol car stopping near Rice, who reached in his waistband for what turned out to be a pellet gun.
Loehmann’s father, Fred Loehmann, of Parma, told the Northeast Ohio Media Group (http://bit.ly/1wiyIHu ) that the officer didn’t know how young the boy was.
He recalled his son saying: “I was right there and he went for the gun. I had no choice.”
Through their lawyer’s spokesman, Rice’s family declined to comment on any details about Loehmann. His funeral is planned Wednesday.