Yesterday, we reported on a story where a 12-year-old boy that had a bb-gun tucked in his waistband, was shot by police after they thought it was a real firearm. Police were called to the area after someone reported a person with a gun.
That boy who was shot has now died as a result of his injuries.
When police arrived, they witnessed a group of people sitting under a pavilion. When they approached, they noticed a firearm on a table that was picked up by the boy and placed in his waistband. Police ordered the boy to put his hands in the air but instead, the boy drew the bb-gun from his waistband. At that time, one of the responding officers fired, striking the boy in the stomach area.
Police learned after the incident that the firearm was actually a bb-gun. The orange safety indicator had been removed, making it difficult to distinguish from real or fake, especially at a distance.
This is definitely a sad story but in reality, if someone were to draw something that looked like a firearm on me, I would have likely responded in the same manner.
