Tyree King, 13, who police said was armed with a laser-sighted BB gun, was killed by an officer who said the boy pulled the weapon from his waistband during a robbery investigation in Columbus, Ohio.
Doctors pronounced King dead at Nationwide Children's Hospital around 8:22 p.m., about a half hour after he was shot multiple times near East Capitol Street, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Police were in the area on an armed robbery report. The victim told police that several young males, one reportedly holding a gun, demanded money, and when officers approached three males near Hoffman Street two of them ran.
King, who ran into an alley, reportedly drew a weapon from his waistband and the pursing officer fired at the boy, police told the Dispatch.
"Crime Scene Search Unit detectives processed the shooting scene and collected what appeared to be a handgun," said a police Facebook post. "Upon further inspection, it was determined to be a BB gun with an attached laser site. The gun was recovered and transported to the Columbus Police Property Room. Witnesses to the robbery and to the shooting were interviewed by investigators."
Police told WCMH-TV that the officer involved in the shooting is a nine-year veteran of the force and recently transferred to the area where the shooting occurred.
Chris Naderer, who lives on Hoffman Avenue, told the Dispatch he heard someone knock down a gate in his backyard and saw a police officer chasing two young males into an alley behind his home.
Naderer said he then heard three to five gunshots from the alley.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.