A bystander had called 911 to report that a boy was waving a gun which was “probably fake,” though emergency dispatchers did not tell the officers that.
The officers claimed they warned the child three times to put the “gun” down, but many argue that is highly improbable as only two seconds had lapsed between the time of their arrival and when Rice fell to the ground.
Protests have erupted in Cleveland and in New York City over the decision, with many activists and community members outraged at the lack of indictment.