Don't let your kids play with toy guns...

[BushMasterBoy]

Another sad story here... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24648974

[Chad4000]

Or at least tell your kids to drop the "weapon" when told. ..

[cstone]

Based on the photograph in the story, I would have believed it was a real AK. I hope there is some dash camera video. If the boy pointed the weapon at any of the officers, he could expect to be shot. I'm guessing the officers involved feel terrible that they took someone's life.

Tragic in many ways.

[anaphylaxis]

Wow. Bad situation for all involved. It looks real enough in the picture; hard to fault the officers for pulling the trigger.

I was told a similar story (with a better ending) by a local officer. A teenager was walking with another teenager with a realistic looking BB gun pointed at the 2nd teenagers head. The officer caught up to them, gave verbal commands which fortunately were followed without hesitation. If not, the officer was prepared to use the shotgun he had at the ready.

I'm not a fan of toy guns. IMHO, they encourage a lack of respect for real firearms with predictable consequences.

[Gman]

I'm not a fan of toy guns. IMHO, they encourage a lack of respect for real firearms with predictable consequences.

...and having been a kid that played a lot with toy guns, I'd have to disagree. We played cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, etc. Nobody ever died and at most was 'shot in the shoulder'. Being a kid and having fun diving for cover is one thing. Graduating to real firearms and learning the respect for them is another.

We also had guidance from our parents about these types of issues with toy guns being mistaken as real, and our parents told us to drop them without hesitation if instructed. Toy guns didn't have orange tips when I was a kid.

[buffalobo]

Wow, tough spot to be in for the officers.

+1 for cstone post.

[kwando]

I agree, my son has a squirt gun and I tell him to NEVER aim it at anyone. Gotta start him young.

[rondog]

Wow, very sad, but unfortunately very believable too. In today's world, you never know anymore. One reason why I won't OC. Educating kids is key, IMO. Started my grandson shooting when he was old enough, and now at 16 he hardly looks at guns unless we're going shooting.

[Dave_L]

I dont understand why they make bb/airsoft guns so realistic. I remember most toy guns in my childhood at least had orange tips. Not that you couldnt paint the tip but still. Tragic situation though.

[Ronin13]

Sad? Yes. Avoidable? Of course. The kid should have dropped the gun when told and announced it wasn't real. Unfortunately with recent shootings where the perpetrator is under 18, sometimes as young as 12 (NV), police have to consider even young juveniles a threat more so now than in years before. It's a scary world we're living in. And like some of you, my toy guns when growing up were very realistic, had orange tips, and it's not impossible to paint over, or in some cases, even remove the tip. Tragic situation indeed, but kids need to realize that toy or not, when a police officer tells you to put the gun down, you put the gun down. I hate to see kids die tragically and in this way, but I cannot in any way fault the officers for their actions.