Columbus Police and the city's Near East Side neighborhood are coming to grips with the tragic news that a white police officer shot and killed a black 13-year-old boy. Officers say Tyre King was a suspect in a robbery and had a gun, which was later revealed to be a BB gun.
On Wednesday evening, Lindsey Nelson walked out the backdoor of her home at 29 Hoffman Street to find a crime scene in the alleyway.
"There was one kid face down right here, another young kid. We knew that they were really young instantly," says Nelson.
According to police, officers were investigating an armed robbery on the near east side when they spotted three males who matched the description of the suspects. When officers approached, they say Tyre King and one other suspect ran. Officers followed them to the alleyway where police say officers attempted to take them into custody. King drew what officers say they thought was a handgun from his waistband. and he was shot several times.
Nelson says she could see King's body through the cracks in her fence.
"The kid that was shot was laying here," says Nelson. "And there were three or four officers standing around. That’s right when it had happened."
Ian Petruzeillo watched from his second-story apartment as King was taken away in an ambulance.
"I later found out that they were taking [him] to Children’s (Hospital), so obviously it was a juvenile, and then (I) woke up this morning to learn that it was a 13-year-old boy who was carrying a BB gun," says Petruzeillo.
King was pronounced dead soon after arriving at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
At a press conference at city hall, officer Kim Jacobs showed an image of a BB gun similar to the one recovered at the scene.
“Our officers carry a gun that looks practically identical to this weapon,” Jacobs said.
Police say officer Bryan Mason fired the fatal shots. A nine-year-veteran, Mason is white, and was recently transferred to the precinct.
Columbus police confirmed that Mason was involved in another fatal shooting in 2012.
Jacobs promised a full investigation and a referral to county prosecutor Ron O’Brien.
“We want as quick an investigation as possible if it’s thorough," said Jacobs.
When Pastor Frederick LaMarr at the Family Missionary Baptist Church, heard about King’s death, he made a visit to the home of King’s grandmother.
“I just gave her a huge hug and held her for about five minutes,” said LaMarr.
After working for 20 years on the city’s South Side, Pastor LaMarr says he’s grown accustomed to supporting families like the King's who have lost their children to gun violence.
“They’re just broken. They’re broken. You know, crying…just everyone just sitting around grieving," said LaMarr.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, while showing support for police officers, promised a full investigation. He said King's death is unacceptable.
"With such easy access to guns, whether they're firearms or replicas, there is something wrong in this country and it is bringing its epidemic to our city streets. And a 13-year-old is dead in the city of Columbus," said Ginther.
Tammy Alsaada with the People’s Justice Project raised questions about the shooting and police training.
"Before you get to shooting a child down because he's got a BB gun-- in a state that it is lawful to carry a weapon, then what are we talking about?" said Alsaada.
According to police, there is no known video footage of the shooting at this time. Ginther says this an example of why Columbus police officers will be required to wear body cameras by early next year.
