The death of Tamir Rice , a 12-year-old boy who was shot last month by a Cleveland police officer who authorities say mistook the child 's air gun for a real firearm , has been ruled a homicide , the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner 's Office said Friday . The November 22 shooting outside a Cleveland recreation center is under investigation , and Tamir 's family has filed a lawsuit against two officers and the city over his death . The homicide finding indicates that Tamir was killed by the police officer , rather than dying accidentally or by natural causes or by suicide . Medical examiners ' homicide findings make no comment on whether the killing constitutes a crime . The cause of death was a `` gunshot wound of the torso with injuries of major vessel , intestines and pelvis , '' according to paperwork provided by Christopher Harris in the medical examiner 's communications office . Cleveland cop who shot Rice slammed for 'immaturity ' in past job . Rice was pointing a pellet gun at people outside the recreation center before he was shot , police say . A witness called 911 to say that a black male -- `` probably a juvenile '' -- was pointing `` a pistol '' at people , but added twice that the gun was `` probably '' fake . A dispatcher asked officers to respond , but it does n't appear the dispatcher told them of the caller 's suspicions that the gun was probably fake or that the person was probably a minor . Two officers arrived in a police car . Within two seconds of exiting the car , Officer Timothy Loehmann shot Tamir , and the boy died the next day , police say . Tamir Rice 's teen sister 'tackled ' after his shooting , mom says . Police have said that Loehmann opened fire after Tamir reached for the gun in his waistband and that an orange tip indicating the gun was a toy had been removed . Tamir 's mother , Samaria Rice , has said she did n't allow her son to play with toy guns , and one of his friends gave the air gun to him . Loehmann , 26 , and the car 's driver , Officer Frank Garmback , 46 , are on paid leave as the investigation is conducted . Opinion : The really shocking facts about Cleveland police .
Tamir Rice , 12 , was shot when , police say , he reached for a toy gun in his waistband last month . Police : Boy pointed the gun outside a Cleveland recreation center ; it turned out to be air gun . The boy died from a gunshot wound to his torso , the medical examiner says .