A sheriff's deputy mistakenly thought he saw a teen
carrying an assault rifle on a California street this
week and shot him dead, authorities said.
It turned out the 13-year-old boy was carrying two
fake guns, a replica AK-47 and a fake hand gun, the
Santa Rosa County Sheriff's office said.
The Tuesday shooting is being investigated, the
sheriff's office said.
School officials in the northern California city of
Santa Rosa identified the teen as Andy Lopez Cruz.
"The Santa Rosa City School District family is deeply
saddened by the loss of Andy Lopez Cruz," a school
system statement said. "This is a tragic event for
family, schools and the community. His
administrators and teachers will remember him as
kind, intelligent and capable."
Two deputies spotted the boy holding what appeared
to be an assault rifle Tuesday afternoon, the Santa
Rosa County Sheriff's office said.
They pulled over "but maintained cover behind their
open passenger door," the press release said.
They yelled at the teen to put the weapon down. He
had his back to them and began turning around
towards the officers, the statement said.
"One of the deputies described that as the subject
was turning toward him the barrel of the assault rifle
was rising up and turning in his direction. The deputy
feared for his safety, the safety of his partner, and
the safety of the community members in the area,"
the statement said.
A deputy shot the teen. The teen was handcuffed,
and the officers called for an ambulance, the
statement said. Deputies found the fake rifle on the
ground near the boCruz's classmates were crestfallen by the news,
Lawrence Cook Middle School Assistant Principal
Linsey Gannon told CNN affiliate KRON.
"He was a very popular student," Gannon told the
affiliate. "He was a handsome young man with many
friends and a lovely family. He will be missed."y. The bogus handgun was tucked
in his waistband.
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