A grand jury Friday declined to indict the white police officer who fatally shot 13-year-old Tyre King last September. A Franklin County grand jury decided the use of deadly force on King was "justified," WCMH-TV reported. The officer, Bryan Mason, has been a part of four cop-involved shootings. Of those incidents, two have been fatal, WCMH-TV said.
"The death of a 13-year-old under any circumstances is tragic," Columbus mayor Andy Ginther said in a statement. "I am committed to continuing to work with all residents and the police to break the cycle of violence, build trust, and give hope." Ginther also called for the "proceedings of the grand jury" to be unsealed and for the results of the police investigation to be made publicly available as soon as possible.
King was fatally shot by Mason Sept. 14 when he displayed what turned out to be a BB gun, the Columbus Dispatchreported. King was reportedly "among" a group suspected of committing a $10 robbery in the Olde Towne East area. King's family requested an independent special prosecutor, but that request has since been rejected by prosecutor Ron O'Brien.
In their statement Friday, the Columbus City Council called the grand jury's decision a "sad and unfortunate reminder" that a child had died in the community.
"While we are grateful for the grand jury’s service and for the community's patience awaiting these results, the Council is also deeply reflective on how we must aggressively strive to end violence in our community and continue to improve the relationship between the people of Columbus and the criminal justice system," the statement, which also called for transparency in the criminal justice system, said.
At a memorial gathering for King on Friday, People's Justice Project organizer Tammy Fournier Al Saada said the battle for a fair justice system must persist. "I'm tired," she said, according to the Dispatch. "But we must fight on."
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