COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) 鈥 A federal jury has found that a white Ohio police officer did not violate a Black teenager's civil rights when he shot and killed the boy while responding to a reported armed robbery.
Jurors reached their verdict Wednesday in . It challenged the police account of the shooting, alleging that the 13-year-old's death resulted from excessive force, racial discrimination and a failure by the police department to properly investigate and discipline officers for racially motivated or unconstitutional behavior.
Columbus officer Bryan Mason shot King in the head and torso on Sept. 14, 2016, as the teen ran from police and after King reached for what police later discovered was a BB gun in his waistband, authorities have said. The gun, found at the scene, was and equipped with a laser sight.
The suit also named the city and its police department as defendants, but a federal judge ruled last summer that there is no evidence the city and the police department violated Tyre鈥檚 civil rights, meaning they could not be held legally liable.
The family鈥檚 lawsuit cited witnesses who said after firing and that the BB gun Tyre reportedly had wasn鈥檛 visible.
Mason, who has said he contended that he acted reasonably to protect himself and denied having directed a slur toward the teens. A not to bring charges against him.
Sean Walton, a lawyer for King's family, said that they respected the jury's decision, adding that the panel 鈥渨as given a hard decision they should have never been faced with.鈥
But in the statement issued Thursday, Walton also sharply criticized how the city handled the matter, saying officials 鈥渦sed every tool at their disposal to avoid being held accountable for killing a child.鈥 He called on the city 鈥渢o do what it takes to start protecting the people of this city and stop traumatizing families, witnesses and those who have the courage to speak truth.鈥
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein thanked the jury for its efforts.
鈥淚t is sad and difficult when any life is cut short, especially that of a 13-year-old like Tyre King. We thank the judge and jury for taking the time to hear and understand the facts of this case, and we respect their decision,鈥 Klein said.
