TAMIR RICE, 12 -- KILLED BY CLEVELAND POLICE

[HairOfTheDog]

So physical stature wouldn't play a part in a police officers split second decision-making?

No one contended such in this thread.

If you're asking me if I think it might play a factor, the answer is "yes". As I said, that's one of the reasons I believe the 911 dispatcher may be in trouble -- if the officers had been given all of the eyewitness caller's descriptions, the officers may not have put themselves in a "split-second decision-making" position. Tamir was posing no threat when they arrived on the scene; there were no bystanders in potential danger (despite the lies told in the original police narrative.)

In any event, Cleveland PD has a record of insufficient training and wrongful approach in regards to reportedly armed citizens. I believe that may be a factor in the shooting death of Tamir Rice. Based on what I saw in the video and the analysis of experienced tactical experts, I agree with those here who've posted that the officers should not have rolled up so close to Tamir.

The approach, whether the officers believed him to be a boy or a man, was a major tactical error that unnecessarily left virtually no time for assessment or management of the situation before deadly force was used, IMO.

I just looked it up. The average 12 year old boy in this country is 58" and weighs 90lbs.

There is video along with multiple pictures of Tamir Rice throughout this thread. He is a big boy with a 12 year old's face. That's not disputed. But, gold star for the research effort, MS.

Also, from the Medical Examiner's report: 'Tamir Rice's appearance was consistent with the reported age of 12 years old or older.'

You said "12 years old is 12 years old." while that's true, if Tamir appeared to be more like an older teen or even a young adult, that may explain why he was perceived as a legitimate threat, rather than just a child playing with a toy gun.

Already addressed in my first response. Same question, same answer.