The official blog for singer, writer, director and human rights advocate Aisha and her affiliated web sites.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Judge Finds Probable Cause For Murder Charges Against The Police Officer Who Shot And Killed 12-Year-Old Black Boy Tamir Rice
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."
