A local prosecutor says the actions of police “were not criminal,” and defends the grand jury’s decision to not prosecute their killing of 12-year old Tamir Rice in Cleveland.
Prosecutor Tim McGinty moments ago told reporters that there will be no indictments in the Tamir Rice case.
He claimed that the widely-viewed video that shows police driving up and shooting to death 12-year old Tamir Rice in less than two seconds last year is only a “small” part of the evidence the grand jury used to make its decision.
Rice on November 22, 2014, was playing with a pellet, or air gun, in a public park. A local man called 9-1-1, telling the operator that the gun was probably fake, but that information, nor the boy’s age, was told to the police officers who responded to the call.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor defended the grand jury’s decision Monday afternoon, saying the original grainy video shown on TV is only small part of the story,” and told reporters that he himself did not believe the officers should be charged.
McGinty said the officer “had reason to fear for his life,” told reporters Rice’s gun was very similar to a real gun, and even said that Rice’s appearance made him look older than he was.
UPDATE I: 2:39 PM EST –
Via MSNBC’s legal analyst. This is frightening. Melber says the prosecutor says they officers followed policy, which should be of great concern to all:
UPDATE II: 4:20 PM EST –
Family Of Tamir Rice Says Prosecutor Was ‘Abusing And Manipulating’ Grand Jury Process
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