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Tamir Rice Family, Attorneys, Demand Special Prosecutor

Samaria Rice talks to protesters calling for a special prosecutor (pic: Brian Bull)
Samaria Rice talks to protesters calling for a special prosecutor (pic: Brian Bull)

By ideastream's Brian Bull

The family of Tamir Rice today asked the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor to step aside and let a special prosecutor investigate the incident. 

Last fall, the 12-year-old was shot by a Cleveland police officer outside a recreation center near his home.  

The family and their attorneys say Tim McGinty will not do the case justice.

Outside the Justice Center in downtown Cleveland, demonstrators chanted, "Hey, hey, ho, ho!  Tim McGinty’s gotta go!"

About two dozen activists, Rice family relatives, and attorneys gathered on the steps of the facility, calling for a new direction into the investigation of Rice’s death.  They blasted the timing and content of two expert reports released late Saturday by the county prosecutor’s office that deemed the boy’s fatal shooting “tragic” but “reasonable.”

Tamir's mother, Samaria Rice, expressed disappointment at the pace of the investigation, and that neither of the officers involved in the incident have been indicted. 

“Do you all think that the killing of my child was constitutionally justified?” Rice asked the crowd.

"NOOO!" the demonstrators responded. 

"I am praying the public continues to ask questions and seeks the truth," continued Rice. "I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support, please continue to support us in getting justice for Tamir. “ 

Attorney Jonathan Abady added that Prosecutor McGinty is too close with law enforcement to be fair and diligent.  

“The police rely on the prosecutors, the prosecutors rely on the police. They are like a family," said Abady. "And what has been proven over time is that some members of these families, the prosecutors, have a great deal of difficulty in acting impartially and fairly when it comes to assessing and investigations allegations of police misconduct.”

McGinty’s office said he has no plans to step aside, and in a written response said the investigation will be thorough and that ultimately justice will be achieved.

Rice was killed last November outside the Cudell Recreation Center. Police shot him within two seconds after pulling up next to him.  He was carrying a pellet gun with its orange safety tip removed.

The officer who shot Rice was a rookie who had poor performance reviews with a previous police department.  Neither he nor his driver were told that  the gun may have been a toy.