12-year-old Tamir Rice was shot and killed by a Cleveland police officer last month and criticism has been circulating further after the release of a surveillance video showing what had happened on November 22.
The man responsible for shooting 12-year-old Tamir Rice is Cleveland Police Officer Timothy Loehmann, who reportedly shot the young boy within two seconds of exiting the police car, according to CNN.
After the surveillance video was released, details of Officer Loehmann have been revealed as well. Loehmann reportedly resigned from another police job two years before he shot Tamir Rice after a supervisor reportedly described him as “distracted and weepy” and “emotionally immature.”
Records from the Independence Police Department obtained by CNN reportedly include comments from a supervisor describing what they called “a pattern of lack of maturity, indiscretion and not following instructions,” a “dangerous loss of composure during live range training” and an “inability to manage personal stress.”
“I do not believe time, nor training, will be able to change or correct these deficiencies,” Independence Deputy Chief Jim Polak wrote in November 2012.
Before he was shot outside a recreation center, Rice was reportedly playing with an “airsoft” gun that he got from a friend, according to USA Today. Rice’s mother, Samiria Rice, has made it clear what the next step should be in her son’s death.
“I’m actually looking for a conviction,” the 12-year-old’s mother reportedly said on Monday when asked what her goal would be in getting justice for her son.
She added, “My child doesn’t do things like that. I don’t allow that type of toy in my house around him. Period.”
Tamir was reportedly the youngest of her three children.
“Tamir was a bright child. He had a promising future. He was very talented in all sports. The community loved him,” stated Samiria Rice.