Tamir Rice: Shooting of 12-year-old by police was 'reasonable', experts conclude

The family of the 12-year-old say a 'whitewash' is taking place

Tamir Rice, 12, was shot to death by police in Cleveland (AP)

The family of Tamir Rice have accused officials of a “whitewash” after two outside experts said the shooting dead of the black 12-year-old by a police officer was “reasonable”.

In a move that sparked outcry among those calling for the police officers involved in last year’s shooting to be prosecuted, the independent officials concluded the officer who killed the boy had feared for his own safety. The boy had been playing with a toy gun.

The reports were sent to the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office in Ohio where a grand jury will decide whether criminal charges are brought against the officers. The shooting of the boy last November in Cleveland was captured on surveillance video.

Tamir Rice was shot moments after police arrived at the park where he was playing (youtube.com)

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty said in a statement his office had not reached any conclusions based on the reports, according to Reuters.

Nearly one year ago, Cleveland police received an emergency call about someone brandishing a gun outside a city recreation centre.

Officer Timothy Loehmann shot the boy twice in the abdomen, seconds after his partner who also is white drove their vehicle to within 5 feet of the boy. The youngster died the next day.

The gun turned out to be a replica pistol that shoots pellets, but had the orange tip removed. The boy’s death was one of a series of high-profile deaths of black suspects by police that sparked protests across the US.

One of the experts, retired FBI agent Kimberly Crawford, said in her review of the shooting, that it was “apparent not only was Officer Loehmann required to make a split-second decision, but also that his response was a reasonable one.”

She added: “He had no information to suggest the weapon was anything but a real handgun, and the speed with which the confrontation progressed would not give the officer time to focus on the weapon.”

In another report, Colorado prosecutor Lamar Sims concluded: “Officer Loehmann’s belief that Rice posed a threat of serious physical harm or death was objectively reasonable, as was his response to that perceived threat.”

The reports, which cited federal case law, stood at odds with an opinion from a Cleveland judge who in June found probable cause that Mr Loehmann should face a murder charge. Municipal Court Judge Ronald Adrine’s opinion did not compel charges or require the officer's arrest.

Subodh Chandra, an attorney for the Rice family, said in a statement: “Any presentation to a grand jury - without the prosecutor advocating for Tamir as prosecutors do for crime victims every day - is a charade.”