Tamir's Family Has Strong Words for Prosecutor

A grand jury on Monday declined to indict a white police officer in the killing of Tamir Rice, and now his family has a few words about the case. In a statement, Tamir's family says it was "saddened and disappointed by this outcome—but not surprised." It accused Cuyahoga County prosecutor Tim McGinty of "abusing and manipulating the grand jury process to orchestrate a vote against indictment." Among other things, the family charged that McGinty improperly hired use-of-force experts to tell the grand jury that Loehmann's actions were reasonable. The family renewed its request for the Department of Justice to step in and conduct "a real investigation." Federal prosecutors in Cleveland noted Monday that a civil rights investigation into the shooting is already underway.

Also, Mayor Frank Jackson says the city and the police department will conduct an internal review that could result in disciplinary action against the two officers, who were removed from street duty and have been on restricted duty since the shooting. Tamir's family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the two officers and the city. McGinty says it was a "tough conversation" with Tamir's mother when she was told there would be no charges. "She was broken up, and it was very hard," the prosecutor says. While condemning the decision, Tamir's family echoed the prosecutor in urging people to express themselves "peacefully and democratically." Barricades were set up outside the county courthouse in Cleveland, and about two dozen people gathered to protest. Click for more on the Tamir Rice decision. (More Tamir Rice stories.)