Following reports of an alleged armed robbery, 13 year old Tyree King was fatally shot by Columbus police last night after they attempted to detain him and another young man. In a statement released by The Columbus Division of Police, they say that cops saw three people who matched the description of the alleged robbery, however when they tried to speak to them, two of the people ran.
“Officers followed the males to the alley … and attempted to take them into custody when one suspect pulled a gun from his waistband. One officer shot and struck the suspect multiple times.” Police later found that the alleged gun was a BB gun with a laser sight attachment. King was pronounced dead at 8:22 p.m.
The name of the officer who shot King has not been released, but so far it is known that he is a 9-year veteran of the police force and recently moved to the area. According to the CDP, the officers are given “mandated psychological support counseling” and the opportunity to “take leave time to assist in recovery from a traumatic experience” after any police-involved shooting.
This incident comes almost two years after Tamir Rice was shot in Cleveland, Ohio for simply holding a BB gun. We will keep you guys updated on this story as more details are released. Keep Tyree King’s family in your prayers.
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