Texas Police Kill 8th-grader Carrying Pellet Gun

Published January 5, 2012 8:54AM (EST)

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — The parents of an eighth-grader who was fatally shot by police inside his South Texas school are demanding to know why officers took lethal action.

But police say the boy was brandishing what appeared to be a handgun Wednesday, though it turned out to be a pellet gun.

Authorities say 15-year-old Jamie Gonzalez was shot at least twice by officers in a hallway at Cummings Middle School in Brownsville.

The boy's father is questioning why officers repeatedly fired at his son. He also says he has no idea where his son got the pellet gun or why he brought it to school.

Interim Police Chief Orlando Rodriguez says his officers had every right to do what they did to protect themselves and other students.


By Salon Staff

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