Cleveland Officer’s Fatal Shooting Of Tamir Rice Ruled A Homicide
The death of Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old Cleveland boy who was shot last month by a police officer while holding a toy gun, has been ruled a homicide, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office said Friday.
[su_center_ad]WGHP reports:
The November 22 shooting outside a Cleveland recreation center is under investigation, and Tamir’s family has filed a lawsuit against two officers and the city over his death.
The cause of death was a “gunshot wound of the torso with injuries of major vessel, intestines and pelvis,” according to paperwork provided by Christopher Harris in the medical examiner’s communications office.
Rice was pointing a pellet gun at people outside the recreation center before he was shot, police say. A witness called 911 to say that a black male — “probably a juvenile” — was pointing “a pistol” at people, but added twice that the gun was “probably” fake.
Within two seconds of exiting the patrol car, Officer Timothy Loehmann shot Tamir. The boy died the next day.
Loehmann, 26, and the car’s driver, Officer Frank Garmback, 46, are on paid leave as the investigation is conducted, according to WGHP.
In 2012, Loehmann was declared unfit for duty. The two officers waited approximately four minutes before administering first aid to Tamir after shooting him.
H/T: @ComgenKDT with thanks. [su_csky_ad]
Pistol-Packing AKA "Susie" December 12th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
of course it is ruled a homicide. Why wouldn’t it be?
Homicide
Homicide is when one human being causes the death of another. Not all homicide is murder, as some killings aremanslaughter, and some are lawful, such as when justified by an affirmative defense, like insanity or self-defense.
Cornell law school Definition: http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/homicide
the question is, what is it “Criminal Homicide” ??
Khary A December 12th, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Well Susie ( first time using that)…That is the question isn’t it? “Criminal Homicide” might be hard to prove because you have to prove malice and forethought etc. If the Prosecution goes for that kind of charge then I fear that this will be another Ferguson or NYC incident.
Pistol-Packing AKA "Susie" December 12th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
And that is the question isn’t it?? My point is, though, we should not be surprised by the report ruling that it was a homicide. Unfortunately, people just don’t understand the meaning sometimes.
And thanks for getting the name right !! =)
Khary A December 12th, 2014 at 3:14 pm
To many just the statement of homicide is a victory and to some degree it is. In as much as one accepts that a human was killed. It’s up to the “justice system” to prove whether it was with intent or just gross negligence (the most likely outcome) or a weird blending of the two, i cant really say what that would be called but in essence knee-jerk reaction slaying due to ( and I will say it) ingrained racial profiling.
Pistol-Packing AKA "Susie" December 12th, 2014 at 3:29 pm
I am not going to debate whether racial profiling or not. Stupidity of the officer.
But ask yourself, why is something being called a homicide a victory for some, when all it is doing is just giving the legal word?? Its not like the kid keeled over and died of a brain aneurysm..
Khary A December 12th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
Oh absolutely I don’t wish to get embroiled in the discussion of racial issues with this case in particular. It’s honesty a far too nuanced discussion for this medium I feel. I feel I can speak for a massed minority though in as much as the “victory” aspect. As it stands the primary group of citizens offended by this action are feeling the loss of value as a human in this country. So seeing something as simple as the word homicide put to this situation gives at least a modicum of solace to the offended and the grieving. In short the fact that it was called that as opposed to justified killing is giving a sense of empowerment and justification to some people. For me personally as I feel we both see is a minimal if not basic understanding of what has happened.
tiredoftea December 12th, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Since they’ve already thrown the shooter under the bus by leaking his lack of fitness for the job, will Cleveland’s DA also indict him for this murder?
Khary A December 12th, 2014 at 3:05 pm
Another good point, the status of the shooter as an incompetent officer is now widely known. This fact may indeed allow the prosecution to pursue a more criminal shade of sentence but as I said to Pistol that may in fact lead to a more muddled hearing.
Suzanne McFly December 12th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
If this cop gets off, the klan will be joining the protest. The limit has been passed a loooong time ago already and people are pissed.
tracey marie December 12th, 2014 at 3:51 pm
so he has already been judged to be unstable, he killed a kid and then handcuffed and threatened a 14 yo girl, the sister of Tamir because she was crying and screaming seeing her dead brother.
Khary A December 12th, 2014 at 4:34 pm
Side note: Does anyone else read the little twitter thingy on the side , i don’t twitter or nothing so that’s my involvement with that source of online corprolalia?. No insult to anyone suffering from that affliction.
ANYWAYS there’s this guy Anthony Stefanic on there. Everytime he makes any statement I have to force myself to not use my rage to evolve into a higher being made of pure energy, travel through the interwebs and turn him into i smoking pile of ashes. jes saying I don’t like that character.
Kim Serrahn December 12th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
So now we wait to see it the cop will be charged.
greenfloyd December 12th, 2014 at 11:18 pm
A Phillip Morris writing at Cleveland [dot] com,
While the writer’s sentiment is worthy, the scope is too narrow to help us understand this tragedy as something more than police violence and incompetence.
There is much more to the story of Tamir’s short life other than his grizzly death or anything else that prides itself as justice in this world. I am not here to write Tamir’s story, although that certainly needs to be done. I am only suggesting that to actually honor him, we need to understand, Tamir Rice was at-risk to become a “homicide” victim from the day he was born.
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