Boy, 13, shot dead by cops after showing BB gun, police say

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Police in Ohio responding to a report of an armed robbery shot and killed a 13-year-old boy who they said pulled a gun from his waistband that was later determined to be a BB gun.

It happened Wednesday night in Columbus.

Police said officers were responding to a report of an armed robbery involving multiple suspects. When they arrived on the scene, they said, the victim told them a group of people had approached him and demanded money. The victim said one of them had a gun.

Police said the officers saw three males matching the descriptions of the suspects and tried to speak with them, when two fled on foot.

“Officers followed the males to the alley ... and attempted to take them into custody when one suspect pulled a gun from his waistband,” police said in a statement early Thursday. “One officer shot and struck the suspect multiple times.”

The suspect, later identified as 13-year-old Tyree King, was taken to a children’s hospital, where he died.

The male with King was identified, interviewed and released pending further investigation.

The officers and the other suspect weren’t injured.

Police also spoke with witnesses to both the robbery and shooting, and were searching for the third suspect in the robbery, reports CBS Columbus affiliate WBNS-TV.

Police said upon further investigation it was determined that King’s gun was actually a BB gun with an attached laser sight.

Police said the incident is under investigation.