CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) –
It’s been ten months since the death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice.
In her first local in-depth interview, Tamir’s mother, Samaria Rice sat down with Cleveland 19’s Romona Robinson to talk about her son, who she affectionately called Mir Mir.
Tamir was fatally shot by a Cleveland police officer Nov. 22, 2014.
Cleveland Police Officer Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback responded to a 911 call of someone with a gun outside the Cudell Recreation Center. A 911 caller had reported seeing Tamir waving a gun.
When officers arrived they pulled up and within two seconds Loehmann opened fire. The gun turned out to be an airsoft pellet gun.
In a very soft-spoken voice, Samaria Rice shared her hopes and dreams she had for Tamir.
“I wanted him to explore his athletic dreams,” said Rice.
A big smile came over her face when she talked about her son. When the interview turned to that day, you could see the sorrow.
Nov. 22 is still a painful day for Rice to talk about, to even think about. For her that day was a “normal Saturday” for them. Tamir and his 14-year-old sister, Tajai went to the park like they usually did. The two were inseparable.
“I sent two children out and only one came home,” said Rice.
In this interview, Samaria will share with viewers who Tamir was to her and to his siblings. It’s an interview Rice wanted to do and so did Romona Robinson.
“I really wanted to get to know who Tamir was…this kid was 12-years-old and he was taken from his mom in less than two seconds,” said Robinson.
Samaria Rice has a message to the city and to the officers involved that day. She also has a message to critics who say she’s trying to capitalize on her son’s death. “It still feels unreal, even to this day. It’s a stain on my brain that I will never be able to forget,” she said.
Rice is waiting for a grand jury to make a decision in her son’s case.
READ MORE: Cleveland19.com
Article and Picture Courtesy of WOIO Cleveland 19 News
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Samaria Rice Gives Interview On the Months Following Tamir’s Death was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
