Tamir Rice

Tamir Rice was a 12-year-old African American boy who was shot and killed by police in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2014. He was playing with a toy gun in a park when police responded to a call about someone threatening others with a firearm. Despite the toy gun's bright orange color indicating it wasn’t real, officers arrived quickly and shot him within seconds of their arrival. His death sparked national discussions about police use of force, especially concerning young Black males, and highlighted issues of how law enforcement interacts with minorities and manages situations involving mental health or perceived threats.