Cops who killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice can be charged with manslaughter, murder, reckless homicide: judge

Ohio judge finds probable cause to charge Cleveland police officer with murder for November fatal shooting of 12-year-old boy who was holding a toy pellet gun

A judge in Ohio said on Thursday he had found probable cause to charge a police officer with murder for the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice last year.

Judge Ron Adriane of the Cleveland municipal court said there were grounds to prosecute officer Timothy Loehmann with murder, manslaughter and reckless homicide.

Walter Madison, an attorney for Rice’s family, told the Guardian: “We are very much relieved and it is a step towards procedural justice and people having access to their government.”

The ruling followed community leaders taking the unusual step of appealing directly to the judge to commence a prosecution of the officer.

Madison said the decision showed “the police are public servants and not the public’s master”.