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Police in Cleveland, Ohio, are investigating after a 12-year-old brandishing a fake weapon was shot by police officers.
On Saturday afternoon, Cleveland Police responded to Cudell Recreation Center on a report of a male with a gun. According to police, witnesses said that a male was in the playground area, waving a gun and pointing at other people. When officers arrived, they found the 12-year-old boy and told him to raise his hands. Instead, the boy reached to his waistband for the gun. The police opened fire, and the boy was hit in the torso.
The boy was immediately taken to MetroHealth Medical Center for treatment. He underwent surgery Saturday night, and according to local media reports, the boy died early Sunday morning.
Cleveland Police say that the weapon was an airsoft replica gun that looked like a semi-automatic pistol. The orange safety indicator was removed at the time of the shooting. Both officers involved in the incident are now on administrative leave, as per protocol, and the Cleveland Division of Police Use of Deadly Force Investigation Team is investigating the incident.
Police also noted that one officer was taken to Fairview Hospital for an ankle injury.
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