[user104658]

Originally Posted by arista

Yes why did that mother let her son out the Front
with a Toy Gun?

How do you know she did? How do you know that she knew he had it? Are parents supposed to circle their kids (almost teenagers) and keep them on a tight leash at all times? Should we have to worry that they'll be shot by the people who are supposed to be protecting people?

This boy did a stupid thing but... he was 12. A 12 year old boy. 12 year old boys feel invincible and do stupid, reckless things that sometimes get them hurt... whether that's playing chicken or climbing around high-voltage wires or any number of potentially dangerous things. One of those risks should NOT be armed men rolling up in a car and opening fire when they could easily - EASILY - have been much more careful and resolved the misunderstanding from a distance.

This is, at best, an indication that these officers are poorly trained and a complete revision of their methods needs to be in place. There are only two options here. Either these guys were following procedure when this occurred in which case, their procedures are woefully lacking and the entire department needs deconstructing brick by brick and put back together properly... or, they were NOT following procedure, in which case they are guilty as sin of causing the unnecessary death of a child.