A 12-year-old boy carrying a pellet gun died from a single shot fired by a rookie police officer, according to an autopsy released today.
Tamir Rice was shot in the abdomen and the bullet damaged a major vein and his intestines, the medical examiner's findings showed.
Several peaceful protests have taken place since the shooting, which has come at a time when police-involved deaths around the nation have drawn on spotlight on departments and their use of force.
Last week, the US. Justice Department released the results of a nearly two-year investigation of Cleveland police that found its officers use excessive and unnecessary force far too often. The report was completed before Tamir's death.
Tamir was shot outside a city recreation center on Nov. 22 after officers responded to an emergency call about someone with a gun at a playground. Surveillance video released by police shows the boy being shot within 2 seconds of a patrol car stopping near him. He died the next day.
Police have said rookie officer Tim Loehmann believed the boy had a real firearm. They later discovered it was an airsoft gun, which shoots nonlethal plastic projectiles.
Tamir's mother, Samaria Rice, said at a news conference earlier this week her son's friend gave him the pellet gun. A grand jury will consider whether charges are merited. The autopsy said Tamir was 5-foot-5 (1.65 meters) and weighed 195 pounds (88 kilograms).
