Tamir Rice’s father speaks about the loss of his young son, seven months after he was gunned down by Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann while playing with an airsoft gun. Rice’s biological father, Leonard Warner, told local media he was not aware that the pre-teen had the non-lethal weapon and that he and his family want justice.
Tamir Rice‘s father speaks for the very first time about the death of his young son at the hands of Ohio authorities. On November 22, 12-year-old Tamir Rice was gunned down in few seconds by Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann, who was accompanied by officer Frank Garmback. The incident occurred after a 911 call was made reporting a person walking around a playground with a gun, which turned out to be a toy.
In an interview with WKYC reporter, Hilary Golston, Leonard Warner, who is Tamir Rice’s biological father, said he and his estranged girlfriend, Samaria Rice, were not aware that their son was playing with an airsoft gun that shoots nonlethal plastic pellets. When asked if he knew where the toy came from.
“No, the only person know is him,” the grieving father said:
The Rice’s family’s lawyer, Walter Madison, revealed that a 16-year-old neighbor asked Tamir Rice to hold the airsoft gun, as he charged a cell phone. Rice, who was being chaperoned by his older sister as he strolled on the playground, was left unsupervised for few seconds as the teenager went to the bathroom.
When the sister returned from the restroom, she discovered that her brother was shot and killed by police officers, who restrained the teen by handcuffing her and putting her in their patrol car. Warner said he is unable to accept the fact that his son is gone. The devastated man confessed:
“I couldn’t believe it. I really couldn’t.I’m still down and out… I’m back home with my mother… taking it real hard.”
Warner went to explain that Tamir Rice’s siblings can not understand what happened to their brother. He shared:
“Every time they wake up, they asking about him… and they go to sleep they asking about him .I can’t tell ’em, but he’s watching over you.”
As of May 15, while there is an ongoing investigation, neither Loehmann or Garmback have been interrogated by officials from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department.
Meanwhile, Rice’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Cleveland, Loehmann, Garmback, and 100 unnamed 911 operators.
What are your thoughts on the father’s interview?
