Judge Finds Probable Cause For Murder Charges Against The Police Officer Who Shot And Killed 12-Year-Old Black Boy Tamir Rice

Judge Finds Probable Cause For Murder Charges Against The Police Officer Who Shot And Killed 12-Year-Old Black Boy Tamir Rice

June 12. 2015

Judge Ronald B. Adrine has gone on record recommending police officers, Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback, be charged with the murder of 12-year-old Tamir Rice. The young boy was in a Ohio park playing with a toy gun. A woman called police to report the incident, but did emphasize the gun was probably fake, though it was scaring a few people.

Tamir Rice

Tamir Rice's classmate

Police officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback were dispatched to the park to investigate what was transpiring. However, rather than handle the situation diplomatically, Loehmann opened fire, killing Rice. His death caused outrage among the public. Judge Adrine stated, "There appears to be little if any time reflected on the video for Rice to react or respond to any verbal or audible comments."

Timothy Loehmann

It was later revealed, the Independence Police Department had declined to keep Loehman as a police officer, due to poor gun performance issues. A senior officer at the Independence Police Department stated in his report prior to Rice's murder, "He (Loehmann) could not follow simple directions, could not communicate clear thoughts nor recollections, and his handgun performance is dismal...show a pattern of a lack of maturity, indiscretion and not following instructions...due to this dangerous loss of composure during live range training and his inability to manage this personal stress, I do not believe Ptl. Loehmann shows the maturity needed to work in our employment. I do not believe time, nor training, will be able to change or correct the deficiencies."