California cops shoot dead 13-year-old boy armed with toy gun

[Hum]

Californian police officers fatally shot a teen boy Tuesday afternoon because was armed with what looked like an assault rifle ? but it was a toy gun.

Andy Lopez, 13, was struck with several rounds from the sheriff's deputies' handguns and fell onto the replica in southwest Santa Rosa, authorities said.

He was declared dead at the scene.

 "Why did they kill him? Why?" the teen's tearful mother, Sujey Annel Cruz Cazarez, said to The Press Democrat after returning from identifying the body.

"I told him what I tell him every day," his father, Rodrigo Lopez, said. "Behave yourself."

The toy gun resembled an AK-47. Plastic replicas of the gun can be purchased for just $34.99, while metal and wood replicas can go for more than $200, the California newspaper said.

Sheriff's officials said it was unclear whether the replica could fire BBs or some other projectile.

 The two deputies who opened fire called for backup when they first spotted Lopez walking around with his friend's toy weapon. Then they repeatedly ordered Lopez to drop the gun, and he failed to comply, according to authorities.

After killing Lopez, the deputies handcuffed the boy, found a plastic gun in his waistband and cordoned off the scene for hours.

Both officers, neither of whom was identified, are on administrative leave, said Sheriff's Lt. Steve Brown.

source

[Arachno 1D]

Whilst I dont condone the shooting and given the recent shootings by a similarly aged youth, Im not surprised in the least that the Officers may have been very jumpy and anticipating the worst whilst attending the call.

[spacer]

 "Why did they kill him? Why?" the teen's tearful mother, Sujey Annel Cruz Cazarez, said to The Press Democrat after returning from identifying the body

Uh, because your son was carrying around a toy gun that looked real? Seriously, how is she that blind? I realize she's distraught over losing her son, but come on.

 

The article makes no mention of whether the toy had the typical (and legally required) orange tip/barrel; so my assumption is that it did not. I don't think the cops are in the wrong here. It's a sad situation, but again it all points back to the parents.

[LimeMaster]

Its a shame that it wasn't in the UK as the cops wouldn't have shot the boy instead the boy would have punished and not killed, but what can you since the boy is dead now. :(

[ashpowell]

Uh, because your son was carrying around a toy gun that looked real? Seriously, how is she that blind? I realize she's distraught over losing her son, but come on.

 

The article makes no mention of whether the toy had the typical (and legally required) orange tip/barrel; so my assumption is that it did not. I don't think the cops are in the wrong here. It's a sad situation, but again it all points back to the parents.

 

Ahh so they have the right to kill him, it's completely okay that they shot a 13 year old boy dead because he had a toy gun.. What a complete idiot.

 

They could have gone about it a million and one other ways, tasing him or even one shot to somewhere that isn't lethal, nevermind both opening fire on him for not listening to them when they asked him to drop his toy.

[Nogib]

When the police tell you to "drop it", you probably should listen to them.

[Gotenks98]

Ahh so they have the right to kill him, it's completely okay that they shot a 13 year old boy dead because he had a toy gun.. What a complete idiot.

 

They could have gone about it a million and one other ways, tasing him or even one shot to somewhere that isn't lethal, nevermind both opening fire on him for not listening to them when they asked him to drop his toy.

And if this had been a real gun and murdered half the school then what?

[Lighthalzen]

1) Was the boy pointing the gun at the officers even after being told to drop their weapons?

2) If the boy was not point the gun at the officers, then taser would have been better.

3) At age 13, he should know better to comply what the officer told him to do.

[ashpowell]

And if this had been a real gun and murdered half the school then what?

 

 

A boy playing in front of his house by the looks of it with a toy.. 

 

Hardly close to murdering half his school to even relate it to that. Better take off all toy guns off the shelves because if a child doesn't drop it when asked he'll get shot dead incase he goes and murders half his school?

[+Warwagon MVC]

That's too bad, i bet the boy won't do that again.

[LimeMaster]

That's too bad, i bet the boy won't do that again.

Because he's dead. :/

[DocM]

If the attached image is of his gun I can see why they fired - the mandatory red plastic barrel extension is missing. Without it these toys, which usually fire harmless 6mm AirSoft plastic spheres, can look real at a distance. Many are even made of real metal and wood. If he wasn't cooperating, even if by freezing up from surprise, the cops have no idea of his intentions.

Ex

[MorganX]

If the attached image is of his gun I can see why they fired - the mandatory red plastic barrel extension is missing. Without it these toys, which usually fire harmless 6mm AirSoft plastic spheres, can look real at a distance. Many are even made of real metal and wood. If he wasn't cooperating, even if by freezing up from surprise, the cops have no idea of his intentions.

Ex

 

 

Gonna have to agree with you on this one Doc.

[macrosslover]

Ahh so they have the right to kill him, it's completely okay that they shot a 13 year old boy dead because he had a toy gun.. What a complete idiot.

 

They could have gone about it a million and one other ways, tasing him or even one shot to somewhere that isn't lethal, nevermind both opening fire on him for not listening to them when they asked him to drop his toy.

You're kidding me right?  If somebody has what you BELIEVE to be a gun pointed at you there's not a million ways to go about it.  Tasing him is NOT an option.  You have three options, shoot him, get shot, or run.

 

Also cops in the United States, can't comment on the UK, are trained to shoot to kill.  It is a myth propagated by TV that cops shoot to disarm or disable.  If a cop makes the decision to fire his gun every bullet is fired with the intention to kill period.  End of story.  If a cop pulls his gun on you and tells you to dig up your ass you better pull out a gold nugget.  Joking aside the point is you do whatever they tell you to do to remain alive and in compliance to DISPEL whatever fear they have about you.

[Blackhearted]

Kill first, ask questions later, even if it's a kid. Yep, sounds like america.

[link6155]

From other sources, the cops told the boy to drop the gun, but he refuse to listen. Not sure what exactly happen, but sounds like the cops may have took it too far either way.

[Noir Angel]

A real tragedy but I have to admit the gun in the image, if that was it does look remarkably realistic. A 13 year old should have known to drop the gun when asked to and his parents should not have allowed him to have such a dangerous toy. I would like to know if the gun was indeed missing the markings that identify it as a toy before passing final judgement but if the gun in the photo was the gun in the incident I can see why they had to shoot. His parents must take their share of the blame as well.

[spaceelf]

That's too bad, i bet the boy won't do that again.

You 'love' kids don't you?  Me too.  I avoid them at all times.

 

As to the article: has happened before, will happen again.

[Growled Member]

When the police tell you to "drop it", you probably should listen to them.

 

I agree with that. However, unless he does something threatening, there is no need to shoot. I don't know all the details but it doesn't sound like he was.

[MDboyz]

The idiot medal goes to this person !!!

 

The issue here is that there was no way to know it was real for fake gun.  Why don't you try that next time to tase someone with the real gun?

 

Don't blame it on the cops with all the killings lately committed by young kids. 

 

Blame it on the parents who fail to look after their kid on the street with the faked gun that looks real.

 

 

Ahh so they have the right to kill him, it's completely okay that they shot a 13 year old boy dead because he had a toy gun.. What a complete idiot.

 

They could have gone about it a million and one other ways, tasing him or even one shot to somewhere that isn't lethal, nevermind both opening fire on him for not listening to them when they asked him to drop his toy.

[Anibal P]

Kill first, ask questions later, even if it's a kid. Yep, sounds like america.

 

Only in Liberal  States like California, you know States where the cops routinely kill innocent bystanders  

[+Raze Subscriber²]

Which of these is a toy AK-47 and the other a real one?  Be very quick, you only have seconds or less to decide before the possibility of 100 rounds a minute coming your way.

 

[MDboyz]

Tell that to the two teachers just got killed by a 12, and 14 years old kids.

 

Kill first, ask questions later, even if it's a kid. Yep, sounds like america.

[Dinggus]

A boy playing in front of his house by the looks of it with a toy.. 

 

Hardly close to murdering half his school to even relate it to that. Better take off all toy guns off the shelves because if a child doesn't drop it when asked he'll get shot dead incase he goes and murders half his school?

 

Doesn't look like a toy gun to me.

 

There was a school shooting recently in Nevada, so yes it could have been related.

 

But telling the kid 2 times isn't enough, and the cops stated the gun was pointed at them, which is deadly force.

[Dot Matrix]

No 13 year old should be in possession of a rifle -real or airsoft. They're not toys to be had.