Story highlights An orange tip indicating the gun was not a real firearm had been removed, police said 
 
 Deputy chief says police have surveillance video of the shooting 
 
 Officer who fired fatal shots "had no clue" Tamir Rice was 12, union official says 
 
 "You didn't give him a chance," an angry resident says of the shooting 
 
 A law enforcement officer's quick decision is once again being put under a microscope. 
 
 On Monday, Cleveland police said officers fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice as the youth reached for an air pistol in his waist. Chief Calvin Williams said the air pistol was "indistinguishable from a real firearm." An orange tip indicating the gun was not a real firearm had been removed, police said. 
 
 "Our officers at times are required to make critical decisions in a split second," Williams said at a news conference "Unfortunately, this was one of those times." 
 
 The incident comes as the nation nervously awaits a grand jury decision on whether to charge the police officer who killed African-American teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in August. 
 
 But Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said events in Ferguson don't concern him. 
 
 JUST WATCHED 12-year-old killed by cops over air gun Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH 12-year-old killed by cops over air gun 01:55 
 
 "Ferguson being out there or not being out there doesn't matter," the mayor said at the news conference. "This is about the fact that a young boy was shot and killed in Cleveland." 
 
 The attorney for the family of the Cleveland youngster, who also was black, downplayed any possible racial connotations to the shooting. Police have not disclosed the race of the officer who shot Tamir. 
 
 "This is not a black and white issue. This is a right and wrong issue," attorney Tim Kucharski said. 
 
 Deputy Chief Ed Tomba said video showing the Saturday shooting exists, but he didn't say where the video comes from. He said representatives for Rice's family have viewed the video and the family will decide later whether to look at it. 
 
 Tomba said the video is not available for journalists now because it's part of an active investigation, which the department plans to complete in 90 days and send to the district attorney. 
 
 'There's a guy in there with a pistol' 
 
 The incident began Saturday when police were summoned to a city recreation center by a 911 caller who said someone -- possibly a juvenile -- was pointing "a pistol" at people. 
 
 "There's a guy in there with a pistol, you know, it's probably fake, but he's like pointing it at everybody," the caller said. 
 
 "He's sitting on a swing right now, but he's pulling it in and out of his pants and pointing it at people," the caller said. "He's probably a juvenile, you know?" 
 
 Police said it's not clear if the responding officers received the information about the age of the suspect or the gun being "probably fake." 
 
 When the two officers arrived, the boy did not point the air gun at them or otherwise threaten them, Tomba told reporters Sunday. 
 
 But he did reach for the air gun, Tomba said. 
 
 "The officers ordered him to stop and to show his hands, and he went into his waistband and pulled out the weapon," he said. 
 
 Tamir died early Sunday at MetroHealth Medical Center after surgery, according to the hospital and the family's attorney. 
 
 Tomba showed reporters the air gun the boy was said to be reaching for -- a large, black BB- or pellet-type replica gun resembling a semiautomatic pistol. An orange tip indicating the gun was not a real firearm had been removed, police said. 
 
 On Monday, Williams said that the "facsimile weapon in this incident was indistinguishable from a real firearm." 
 
 Both officers have been placed on leave, police said. 
 
 The head of the police union said the officers followed protocols. 
 
 "As they approached the male, they are screaming at him, 'Put your hands up, put your hands up' -- they don't want his hands to go anywhere down by the waistband," Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association President Jeff Follmer told CNN affiliate WJW. 
 
 "I can tell you the officer that fired had no clue that he was 12, he just thought it was an older male. There was more concentration on his hands because we are taught in the academy that hands will kill you," Follmer told the station. 
 
 'It was a child' 
 
 Residents reacted angrily. 
 
 "It wasn't a dog. It was a child. You didn't give him a chance. You just killed him," one man told CNN affiliate WEWS. 
 
 Someone claiming to represent the online activist group Anonymous claimed in a YouTube video to have taken down the city's website, blaming the shooting on what the speaker said was "an overzealous rookie officer" who resorted too quickly to lethal force. 
 
 "Officers are equipped with many nonlethal options such as Taser guns," the speaker said. "Why did he not use a Taser on this child? Shooting him in cold blood was not necessary with these nonlethal options available." 
 
 However, Follmer said officers had no way to know the air gun wasn't a real firearm. 
 
 "You feel bad, after the fact, that it was a 12-year-old," he said. "Nobody wants to shoot a 12-year-old, especially when they are holding a fake gun. But that's not the perception the officers had at that time." 
 
 Chief Williams said parents need to teach children that "guns are not toys," whether they're real or fake. 
 
 Police shootings of African-Americans, particularly young men, have been under rising scrutiny in recent months after Brown's shooting following a brief confrontation in Ferguson. 
 
 A grand jury there is expected to soon make a decision whether Officer Darren Wilson should face criminal charges in that incident, which resulted in widespread protests over police violence against African-Americans. ||||| CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The investigation into the fatal shooting of 12-year old Tamir Rice by police is just beginning. Police say Rice reached for an airsoft-type replica gun in his waistband when asked to put his hands in the air outside Cudell Recreation Center on Saturday. 
 
 Police held a press conference this morning as people in the community began to raise questions about the events that led to death of the boy. 
 
 Refresh this post for the latest developments throughout the day. 
 
 8:30 p.m. - Dozens attended a vigil for Tamir Rice at the scene of the shooting. Check out a slideshow from The Plain Dealer's Lynn Ischay here. 
 
 7:15 p.m. - The chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association, an organization that advocates for gun rights in Ohio, called the officer's decision to fire at Tamir Rice "a legitimate shoot." The chairman told reporter Sarah Dorn, "If you have someone who has a gun in a waistband and does not comply with officers' orders and instead reaches for a firearm, the officer can not wait any longer." 
 
 6:48 p.m. - Evan MacDonald answers readers' questions about the Tamir Rice shooting, including: 
 
 Why did the officer Tamir in the chest, rather than shoot to injure him? 
 
 Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Associated President Jeff Follmer said Sunday that officers are "not trained to shoot people in the leg." According to Follmer, "If we pull that trigger, we feel our lives are in danger." 
 
 6:15 p.m. - The fatal shooting of children under 13 by police is an extremely rare occurrence in U.S. criminal justice, though no real data on these types of crimes exists. John Harper found no other incident where an officer confronted and killed a child younger than 12-years-old. 
 
 5 p.m. - The second rally of the day begins at the Cuddell Recreation Center, the scene of the shooting, where dozens of protestors showed up with handmade signs. 
 
 Mary Kilpatrick reports that about about 60 people attended, including Tamir's older sister, who spoke out against her brother's killing, saying "I don't know why they did that. He was only 12. He wanted to play basketball or the NBA. He loved everybody." 
 
 Dozens gathered at Cudell Rec Center in Cleveland for #TamirRice rally. @clevelanddotcom pic.twitter.com/9zsUQAYDhc — Brandon Blackwell (@BlackwellTweets) November 24, 2014 
 
 5 p.m. - The coroner releases the cause of death for Tamir Rice as a gunshot wound to the torso with injuries to major vessels, intestines and the pelvis. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner rules Tamir's death a homicide, Evan MacDonald reports. 
 
 4:35 p.m. - Family and friends of Tamir Rice are expected at a rally at Cudell Recreation Center at 5 p.m. Get live coverage of it here. 
 
 4:30 p.m. - We're learning more about the boy's family, specifically his mother. Our Brandon Blackwell reports, 
 
 Samaria Rice was sentenced in February 2013 to two years of probation after she pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking charge. Charges for drug possession and having criminal tools were dropped when she pleaded, court records show. 
 
 4:20 p.m. - The city of Cleveland's web site continues to be down after it was hacked by the 'hacktivist' group Anonymous early this morning. The FBI is investigating. 
 
 From Mary Kilpatrick's story: 
 
 The website will remain down until the city completes an assessment. 
 
 "The city of Cleveland and our website vendor are reviewing the incident and determining proper preventative measures to be added in order to ensure future attacks are thwarted," city spokesman Daniel Ball said. 
 
 4 p.m. - Twenty years ago, East Cleveland police shot and killed 14-year-old Jeffrey Bell in a case similar to Saturday's police shooting in Cleveland that took the life of 12-year-old Tamir Rice. The result: Cleveland's law banning the brandishing of BB guns. Read more from reporter John Harper here. 
 
 3:45 p.m. - Protesters arrived at Justice Center, only to turn around and head back to Public Square. 
 
 3:10 p.m. - The protest at Public Square started. Protesters are marching to the Justice Center, chanting "No justice, no peace!" Check out a multimedia slideshow of the protest from Amanda Harnocz. 
 
 3 p.m. - Tamir Rice's gun was described by police as a "airsoft" type replica gun. It's been called everything from a BB gun, a toy gun and a fake gun. Mary Kilpatrick takes a closer look at the this type of gun: 
 
 The novelty guns shoot small plastic pellets and come in all shapes and sizes, including pistols and rifles, said Chip Hunnicutt, Marketing Manager for Crosman, a New York State-based company and one of many manufacturers that produce the guns. 
 
 2:20 p.m. - One of the many questions people have asked about this shooting is whether or not police are specifically trained for this type of situation involving children. Our Sara Dorn reports, 
 
 There are no policies for dealing specifically with armed children, Strategies for Youth founder Lisa Thurau said: "Some of it is a function of training, and some of it is a function of natural innate ability. Some officers are more attuned to the needs of young people." 
 
 2:08 p.m. - At the press conference this morning, police said Rice and the officer were less than 10 feet apart at the time of the shooting. 
 
 Last night, Rice's father Gregory Henderson told our Cory Shaffer, "Why not taze him? You shot him twice, not once, and at the end of the day you all don't shoot for the legs, you shoot for the upper body." 
 
 1:37 p.m. - Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter Evan MacDonald is answering your questions about the shooting here. For example: 
 
 Q: What regulations govern the sale or possession of imitation firearms in Ohio and in Cleveland? 
 
 A: Ohio law prohibits persons under age 18 from owning or possessing firearms, but neither state law nor federal law defines airsoft guns as firearms. 
 
 In Cleveland, it is illegal to sell "replica or facsimile firearms," including air guns. The law does not apply to a device that is distinctly colored, has an exaggerated size, or has a design feature that makes it appear different from a real firearm. 
 
 It is also illegal in Cleveland to draw, exhibit or brandish such a device in the presence of a law enforcement officer, or to "frighten, vex, harass or annoy" another person. 
 
 12:46 p.m. - Tamir Rice's family declined to see video of the shooting, Cory Shaffer reports. Read his 5 takeaways from this morning's press conference here. 
 
 12:38 p.m. - Congresswoman Marcia Fudge offered condolences to the Rice family and urged the Department of Justice to get involved, reports Sabrina Eaton. 
 
 "With the long awaited report by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) into the use of deadly force, racial discrimination and police pursuits by the Cleveland Division of Police expected soon, I urge DOJ to review this incident and continue monitoring the Police Department," she said in a release. 
 
 12:30 p.m. - Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed says if Cleveland police had been equipped with the body cameras council approved in October, there would be fewer unanswered questions about this shooting, Ryllie Danylko reports. 
 
 12:25 p.m. - Tamir Rice did not have a juvenile criminal record, Brandon Blackwell reports. 
 
 12:15 p.m. - The tragedy should provide a teaching moment for parents and children, child psychologist at Case Western Reserve University Dan Flannery told our Patrick Cooley. 
 
 "This is why we talk about not carrying around real-looking (replica) guns to begin with," Flannery said."That's the conversation I'm going to be having with my 12-year-old daughter." 
 
 12:10 p.m. - The hashtag #TamirRice is picking up steam on Twitter. See some of the tweets and photos being posted on social media here. 
 
 12:01 p.m. - Williams said the video and scientific evidence will show exactly what happened. "There's no time a Cleveland police officer wants to shoot a kid and that's how the officer feels." 
 
 11:58 a.m. - Jackson and Williams are asked if they're prepared for potential violence in light of what's happening in Ferguson, Mo. 
 
 "We're always prepared for whatever comes," Jackson said. 
 
 "The division always has a contingency plan for Ferguson and we have a plan for this," Williams added. 
 
 Mayor Frank Jackson says Ferguson grand jury doesn't matter to him. "What matters to me is it happened to a child, and..in CLE." #TamirRice — Cory Shaffer (@cory_shaffer) November 24, 2014 
 
 11:50 a.m. - Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty agrees with Tomba that the video will not be released at this time. He then reads the prosecutor's office policy regarding investigations into the use of deadly force by a police officer. Short version: their findings will be presented to the Grand Jury. 
 
 11:45 a.m. - Cleveland Police Deputy Chief Edward Tomba reveals there is video evidence of the incident and that the department will complete its investigation in 90 days. 
 
 When pressed about the video and if it will be released, Tomba said, "It's part of an ongoing investigation. Our main concern is our community, the family and the officer." 
 
 "We have to be sensitive to them before we decide what to do with it." 
 
 Tomba does reveal the officer and the boy were less than 10 feet apart at the time of the shooting. He won't release the name of the officer. Tomba says they've only talked with him briefly so far. 
 
 He also says he's not sure if dispatchers told the officers the gun may have been fake. 
 
 11:40 a.m. Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams takes the podium and also expresses condolences to the boy's family. 
 
 His main message: "Guns are not toys and we need to teach our kids that," Williams said. "The facsimile weapon in this incident is indistinguishable from a real firearm." 
 
 11:35 a.m. - The press conference begins 35 minutes late. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson makes the opening statement. 
 
 "My condolences to the Rice family for the loss of their child," Jackson said. 
 
 "There's nothing I could say that would be adequate for the suffering and pain they're going through." 
 
 11 a.m. - There are two rallies for Tamir Rice planned for today. At 3 p.m., the group Puncture The Silence is organizing a rally at Public Square. Family and friends will reportedly gather at Cudell Rec Center, Detroit and West Boulevard, at 5 p.m. 
 
 8 a.m. - The hacktivist group Anonymous is claiming responsibility for taking down the city of Cleveland's website overnight. In a video message posted on YouTube, Anonymous charges that an "untrained rookie officer" shot Tamir "in cold blood," and asks why the officer did not Taser the child. 
 
 7 a.m. - In case you missed it, listen to the 9-1-1 call received from outside the rec center around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The caller reported seeing "a guy with a pistol" on the swing set pulling the weapon from his pants and "scaring the s--t out of everyone." 
 
 9-1-1 call 
 
 "There's a guy with a pistol, and it's probably fake," he said quickly, "but he's pointing it at everybody." ||||| UPDATE: Dec. 4, 2:47 p.m. ET 
 
 St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar apologized to Rice's family for the post, which he attributed to an officer from the Fenton precinct. 
 
 "While the post did not originate from the Chief’s Office and I was unaware of its presence prior to its release, I realize the message was insensitive to Tamir’s family and the sorrow they are currently experiencing," said a statement posted by Belmar to the St. Louis County Police Department Facebook page. "The post conveyed the message that my officers respond to calls involving a child with a gun with indiscretion and little regard for life. I want to emphasize that my officers respond to calls with discernment, and have the highest regard for human life. We train officers to take all facts and circumstances into consideration when making decisions about using force." 
 
 Original story: 
 
 
 
 On the heels of violent protests in Ferguson, St. Louis County Police on Thursday posted about the shooting death of Tamir Rice, 12, in Cleveland, Ohio. 
 
 The Facebook post, which came from the Fenton Precinct, located just south of Ferguson, provided a detailed outline of what children should do if confronted by a police officer while playing with a toy gun. The post — which led with the line: "Kids will be kids?" — sparked a flurry of negative feedback. 
 
 Image: Facebook Screen shot 
 
 Image: Facebook Screen shot 
 
 "We are aware of the post and we are looking into it," Officer Shawn McGuire of the St. Louis County PD told Mashable. 
 
 The post, which St. Louis County also tweeted, references the shooting death of Rice, who was holding an Airsoft gun with the orange safety marking when he was shot by a white police officer seconds after he arrived at the scene. 
 
 The post received immediate backlash on social media after the police department attempted to warn local families about the dangers of toy guns. It was made private less than one hour after it was published. However, the tweet wasn't pulled until a little after 10 a.m. ET. 
 
 The Facebook post, which also had a photo of the toy gun, said it was in response to the "hot" topic of Rice's death. 
 
 This article is not about this a boy losing his life, whether this was a justified shooting or, whether the cops acted too fast. This is about the Fenton Precinct making residents aware of a 'hot' topic and learning from this incident so Fenton never loses a child’s life. 
 
 The post then went on to provide a detailed description of how children can avoid a deadly encounter with police, noting that officers are trained to respond as if the gun is real. 
 
 Police will respond as though it is a real gun until it can be confirmed one way or the other. 
 
 The police department the provided tips for parents. 
 
 Do not run away. They need to no longer have the gun in their hands, throw it away from them. They need to comply with officers instructions. They may be ordered to lie down on the ground. 
 
 Then the department came full circle, ending with that same jarring line. 
 
 So again, kids will be kids, and your children will continue playing war in the common grounds. Share this with your children; tell this story to families that might need this information, and encourage your kids to talk to classmates about this. Working together we will keep our community a safe place. 
 
 The St. Louis County Police Department was part of the police force responding to recent violent protests in Ferguson in the wake of the grand jury decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson, who is white, in the shooting death of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black. 
 
 Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
– Tamir Rice was one of the highest-profile examples of a person carrying a fake weapon who was gunned down by cops, but as the Washington Post reports in an exclusive, he was far from the only one. Those statistics, per the Post's internal database of US fatal police shootings, show that 43 people with "ultra-real-looking pellet guns, toy weapons, and non-functioning replicas" were killed in 2016, as well as 43 people in 2015. Of those killed, 54 were white, while 81 were male. But just because the guns were fake, they weren't obviously so—the Post points out that "almost all" of the recovered weapons in these 86 fatal shootings were "highly realistic" likenesses of the real deal, including BB and pellet guns, airsoft guns, and replicas. Sig Sauer, for example, manufactures airguns that it promotes as "carbon copies" of its actual weapons. Because these phony firearms are a) "red hot" now, per an industry consultant, and b) "virtually impossible" to identify as being fake from far away, cops are in a dilemma where they're left with "little choice but to assume the guns are lethal," the Post notes. "People don't really understand the dynamics of a police-involved situation," says Kim Jacobs, the police chief in Columbus, Ohio. "They all have families, they want to go home at the end of their shift." There have been efforts to push laws that would make airguns look noticeably different from real ones, but those efforts have been stymied by gun rights groups. And two studies done 25 years ago showed that adding markers to fake weapons didn't substantially cut down on police shootings. One sheriff in Alachua County, Fla., wants to circumvent aesthetic changes altogether. "Part of the solution is to ban the sale of toy or replica guns," he says.