Autopsy: Cleveland boy was shot once by officer

CLEVELAND (AP) — A 12-year-old boy carrying a pellet gun died from a single shot fired by a rookie police officer, according to an autopsy released today.

Tamir Rice was shot in the abdomen and the bullet damaged a major vein and his intestines, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner concluded in labeling the death a homicide.

Tamir was shot outside a city recreation center on Nov. 22 after officers responded to a 911 call about someone with a gun at a playground. Surveillance video released by police shows the boy being shot within 2 seconds of a patrol car stopping near him. He died the next day.

Police have said rookie officer Tim Loehmann believed the boy had a real firearm. They later discovered it was an airsoft gun, which shoots nonlethal plastic projectiles.

Tamir's mother, Samaria Rice, said at a news conference earlier this week her son's friend gave him the pellet gun.

A grand jury will consider whether charges are merited.

The autopsy said Tamir was 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 195 pounds. The report did not say how long it took officers to provide medical help.