On Wednesday, Sept. 14, a 13-year-old Columbus, Ohio teen was gunned down by officers after mistaking his BB gun for a real weapon.
According to WCMH NBC 4i, police identified the shooting victim as Tyre King.
Around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Columbus police responded to an armed robbery.
Initial police reports state that a group approached the victim and demanded money. One of the alleged robbers was carrying a gun.
Subsequently, officers spotted three men who matched the description walking near the scene of the incident.
NBC 4i reports that officers attempted to ask the three men about the robbery. However, two of them fled.
Columbus police chased them into an alleyway and quickly tracked them down.
But Tyre allegedly pulled out a weapon as officers tried to apprehend him.
An arresting officer shot him multiple times, police say, and the teen was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m.
Neighbor Chris Naderer tells reporters that he saw the robbery suspects run away from police and that he heard “shots five, 10 seconds afterwards.”
Police identified Tyre’s weapon as a BB gun with a laser sight attached.
The officer involved, a 9-year veteran, will undergo psychological counseling after the shooting, per NBC 4i.
