Cops Won't Face Charges in Shooting of Tamir Rice

A grand jury has declined to indict a rookie Cleveland police officer or his partner for their roles in the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, a black youngster who was holding what turned out to be a pellet gun. Patrolman Timothy Loehmann fatally shot Tamir Rice seconds after a police cruiser driven by Frank Garmback skidded to a stop near the boy in November 2014. The Cuyahoga County sheriff's office and county prosecutors completed a lengthy investigation into the case, and the grand jury presentation began in late October.

Prosecutor Tim McGinty announced the grand jury's decision Monday, describing the events of that night as a "perfect storm of errors," reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer. A video of the shooting captured by a surveillance camera provoked outrage nationally and made Tamir a central figure in a protest movement over police killings. Both officers have said they thought Tamir had a real gun, and McGinty called on manufacturers to stop making toy guns so realistic.