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A 13-year-old boy fatally shot by police in Columbus, Ohio, was allegedly in possession of a BB gun that was nearly an exact replica of a police firearm, according to the city's mayor and police.

The young victim, an eighth-grader identified as Tyre King, was shot after he pulled "what looked like handgun from his waistband as officers pursued him and two other robbery suspects," police said.

"Our officers carry a gun that looks practically identical to this weapon" found at the scene of the shooting, said Columbus Chief Kim Jacobs. "Some of the officers at the scene were very disturbed about the fact that here we are out at this time of the night chasing [apparently] armed 13-year-olds."

In a 911 call reporting a robbery, a witness can be heard telling the dispatcher that a man had been robbed by a group of about seven or eight people. A member of the group "had a gun on [the victim]," and the others were "standing behind him holding their hands, too, like they had guns on them," the witness said.

The man who was robbed said $10 was taken from him and described the gun as a pistol. Some of the group jumped into a gray car, while others jumped over a fence, the witness said.

The eight-minute 911 call continued until the witnesses heard shots fired.

"He’s shooting him," the witness said. "Oh my god."

The man who was robbed then told dispatchers that he was not assaulted and did not need a medic.

 

One of King's family lawyers, Sean Walton, disputed police's version of events, saying "multiple witnesses that we have been made aware of that do not corroborate the current narrative." He also described King as a "normal 13-year-old" and that the actions described by police "are out of his normal character."

The family's legal team called for an independent investigation.

Mayor Andrew Ginther today called the boy's death "troubling" and said this should be a "call to action" for the community to help keep neighborhoods safe.

The shooting happened Wednesday night after police say the teen pulled what looked like handgun from his waistband as officers pursued him and two other robbery suspects. The officer shot and struck him multiple times and the boy was pronounced dead that night at the hospital, police said. The weapon found at the scene was later determined to be a BB gun.

Jacobs this morning called the shooting a "tragedy," saying that after all the evidence is gathered, the investigation will be turned over to the prosecutor's office, which will present the case to a grand jury to determine if criminal charges should be filed.

More:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/patie...us/story?id=42105421

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