Ohio officials tell Tamir Rice prosecutor to act
CLEVELAND - Three members of the Cuyahoga County Council sent a letter to the prosecutor overseeing the Tamir Rice case on Friday asking him to seek an indictment in the shooting death of the 12-year-old, or turn the case over to a special prosecutor.
Three out of 11 council members sent the letter to Prosecuting Attorney Tim McGinty to "express our concern about the ongoing investigation into the death of Tamir Rice." Rice was in a park with a pellet gun when he was shot and killed by Officer Timothy Loehmann on November 22, 2014. So far, no charges have been brought against Loehmann, and two outside reports commissioned by McGinty's office determined earlier this month that Loehmann was justified when he killed the boy.
"We are not reaching any conclusions from these reports," Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said in a statement following the release of the reports. "The gathering of evidence continues, and the grand jury will evaluate it all."
Rice's family has called for a special prosecutor to take over the case.
A grand jury began hearing testimony in the case on Monday, but the council members say in their letter that they want McGinty to seek an indictment himself, if sufficient evidence exists.
"To abdicate your prosecutorial responsibilities to a grand jury would be highly unusual, and to do so in this instance would be a disservice to the family of Tamir Rice and the concerned citizens of Cuyahoga County."