Community meets with leadership to discuss frustration after 13-year-old was shot and killed by Columbus police officer

I don’t think the conversation should be focused on how the police handled the situation and jeez I don’t expect any of our fine police officers to take that extra couple of seconds to ascertain if a suspect is a minor or not. Police make split second decisions daily and shouldn’t have this added burden. Yes police are trained to ascertain situations but if a weapon is pointed at you, you only have a split second to decide wether the suspect that is pointing a weapon at you is going to use it. In fact, it is standard practice that if a weapon is pointed at you the intent is that person IS going to use it. The police should also not have to ascertain if a weapon is a gun, BB gun or a toy. I think the conversation really needs to be focused on why this child had a BB gun, why this child was out with this weapon with a laser point, why was this child out at night and WHERE were the parents? I’m actually sick of community members stating that he was just a baby and that the city and CPD needs to do something about this. How about these same community members getting together and find ways to educate parents with children in how to raise good children, to patrol and monitor their own communities and get suspecting mischievous kids off our streets. In fact this practice can extend to any suspecting individuals out and about in our communities. We all need to stop pointing fingers at our CPD and our city because of issues that have their root and cause within our own communities. Communities that no longer seem to care about the state of their neighborhoods, acceptance of crime activity, decaying structures, filthy alleys, drug dealings on the corner, drug dealings at the next door house, and finally children out late at night roaming the streets or roaming the streets during the day when they should be in school. And I have a very strong suggestion for the groups that are out there protesting and screaming race and that their group is deliberately being targeted for inequitable justice -Use your energy instead to get involved in your community, educate YOUR youth in being good citizens, not to use guns whether real or a toy, pick up trash in your communities, become involved with your local community groups in fighting crime on your streets, drugs on the corner, YOUR neighbors drug house and finally getting involved with local community organizations that provide mentoring and safe hang outs and programs for our youth. Scream and protest instead to get city funding to implement these programs once you become involved and passionate for it’s need. And finally the CPD are our tools and resources. If you see it report it and followup on it! Ask for an incident number. And finally the CPD are our tools and resources. If you see it report it and followup on it! Ask for an incident number. Don’t hide behind your door or curtain: 614-645-4545, if Emergency dial 911. If you have blight in your neighborhood report it and followup on it! Ask for a confirmation number. Don’t ignore it and expect your neighbor to call. In fact get your neighbor or neighbors to call in as well! 614-645-3111. And finally get acquainted with your area block watch or civic organization. Know your Police liaisons number and use it to have conversations on issues currently going on in your neighborhood. Call the CPD and ask the police to send a cruiser to your street if you feel unsafe or see suspecting behavior and If they refuse then file a complaint with their complaint line with the incident#, (614) 645-4880, 24 hours a day. We all have the power to control the living conditions of our environment, sometimes we tend to forget that it starts with our own hands.
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PUBLISHED: 09/16/16 11:58 PM EDT.UPDATED: 09/17/16 12:00 AM EDT.
http://www.10tv.com/article/community-meets-leadership-discuss-frustration-after-13-year-old-was-shot-and-killed
COLUMBUS, Ohio
A community tries to work together as frustration builds after a 13-year-old is shot and killed by a Columbus police officer.
Faith leaders alongside the mayor and the Columbus police chief invited the community to engage in a discussion about Tyre King’s death.
That discussion turned emotional and passionate as the community demanded answers.
It’s only been two days since King was shot and killed by Columbus police officer Bryan Mason.
Tensions and emotions were extremely high.
“We are tired! I shouldn’t have to wake up to see another black boy dead. Another baby. He was just a baby,” said Hana Abdur’Rahim during the gathering.
Abdur’Rahim didn’t hold back after Pastor Jason Ridley said they only had time for a few more questions.
“There are so many unresolved cases of black men being slaughtered, by the police,” said Abdur’Rahim. “Our blood is on this concrete and no one cares, so I’m going to speak up.”
Police say Wednesday evening several people called 911 to report seven or eight people robbed a man at gunpoint near East Broad and South 18th Streets.
Police say Officer Bryan Mason shot and killed King after the eighth-grader reached into his waistband for a BB gun, a gun police say looks almost identical to what they carry.
“It is a time of mourning in the city of Columbus,” said Mayor Andrew Ginther.
Mayor Ginther took a moment to talk to the community expressing his dissatisfaction with the fact that a 13-year-old child was shot and killed by a Columbus police officer.
“What is it that drives our fascination and obsession with guns,” said Ginther.
And the question now is what’s next, and how do you prevent something like this from happening again.
“What is God’s name does a BB gun need to mimic and be a look alike for a firearm,” asked Ginther.
“I think it was a protocol that should have took place that time if it was three kids running from the police,” said Johnny Holden, who said he was King’s cousin.
“We’re always looking at how we can improve our practice. I’m constantly saying I use the best practices,” said Columbus police Chief, Kim Jacobs.
Abdur’Rahim feels like tonight’s gathering at the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church on South 18th Street, right across from where King was killed, was just a show.
She’s ready for action.
“I wanted to hear sympathy,” said Abdur’Rahim. “We’ve had enough, we’ve had enough, and we’re going to start speaking, and start doing.”
“There is a perception of bias and there is a perception of racial injustice,” said Debbie Crawford.
Faith leaders are calling for peaceful change as a community struggles to come together and make sense of what happened just two days ago.
“We want to leave here knowing that we’ve begun a conversation that’s not over yet, but we are in it now,” said Pastor John Boston III.
Now the hope is to begin the path toward healing as a memorial for a 13-year-old continues to grow, across from where he was killed
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