CLEVELAND – Samaria Rice got her first look Friday at the investigation into her young son’s death at the hands of police.
Samaria Rice, along with her two attorneys, Jonathan Abady and Earl Ward, of New York, met with Cuyahoga County prosecutors for about two hours and got a look at the investigation, which was completed last month by Cuyahoga County Sheriff Detectives.
After viewing the report, they wouldn’t discuss specifics but told us what they thought.
“My goal is to get justice,” Samaria said. “I am seeking justice, and I am very happy with the meeting we had today.”
Abady said they left the meeting feeling encouraged.
“We are very hopeful that they are going to do a vigorous prosecution because this was a horrible, horrible tragedy,” Abady said. “This child should have never been shot and that’s very clear.”
The prosecutor’s office would not comment on the meeting.
The sheriff’s department turned over their report to prosecutor’s last month.
12-year-old Tamir Rice was shot by a Cleveland police officer November 22 in the playground area of the Cuddell Recreation Center.
Police were called to the center after a person called 911 saying a male was there waving a gun. Police say they ordered Tamir to put his hands up and instead he reached for his waistband. He was shot.
Tamir had an airsoft pistol that police say looked like a real gun.
