Tamir Rice. (Photo: Justice for Tamir Rice) A Cleveland Municipal Court judge said Thursday there was probable cause to charge a Cleveland officer with murder in the killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, according to Cleveland.com. Officer Timothy Loehmann shot and killed Rice in November 2014 while Rice was playing with a toy gun. Loehmann opened fire within two seconds of arriving outside a recreation center where the young boy was standing. The judge also found there was probable cause to charge officer Frank Garmback, Loehmann’s partner, with involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, negligent homicide and dereliction of duty. In his decision, the judge notes that in surveillance footage of…
Tamir Rice. (Photo: Justice for Tamir Rice)
A Cleveland Municipal Court judge said Thursday there was probable cause to charge a Cleveland officer with murder in the killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, according to Cleveland.com.
Officer Timothy Loehmann shot and killed Rice in November 2014 while Rice was playing with a toy gun. Loehmann opened fire within two seconds of arriving outside a recreation center where the young boy was standing.
The judge also found there was probable cause to charge officer Frank Garmback, Loehmann’s partner, with involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, negligent homicide and dereliction of duty.
In his decision, the judge notes that in surveillance footage of the incident, “there appears to be little if any time reflected on the video for Rice to react or respond to any verbal or audible commands given from Loehmann and Garmback from their [car] between the time that they first arrived and the time that Rice was shot.”
Samaria Rice, the mother of Tamir, a 12-year-old boy fatally shot by a Cleveland police officer, speaks during a news conference on March 3 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
The ruling comes after community leaders earlier this week asked the court to let a judge bring murder charges and issue arrest warrants in the case.
“The police’s use of deadly force was fatal, unconscionable, that we deem criminal in nature,” read their 131-page citizen complaint.
Last week, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department gave the findings of its investigation to County Prosecutor Tim McGinty’s office. The decision about whether to bring the charges against the officers now rests with the prosecutor’s office.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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Judge Finds Probable Cause To Charge Officer Timothy Loehmann With Murder In Tamir Rice Killing
