Too Quick to Jump the Gun

On Tuesday, October 22nd, a thirteen year old boy by the name of Andy Lopez Cruz was shot and killed to death by a California police officer. He was walking the streets of Santa Rosa with two fake guns, a replica of an AK-47 and a hand gun. "The Santa Rosa City School District family is deeply saddened by the loss of Andy Lopez Cruz," a school official statement said. "This is a tragic event for family, schools and the community. His administrators and teachers will remember him as kind, intelligent and capable."  Two police officers pulled over to the side of the road, and shielded themselves behind the open passenger door. They yelled at Cruz to put his weapon down, and as he turned around the cop began to feel extreme fear. The statement from the report said the officer thought the barrel of the assault rifle was rising up and turning in his direction. One officer shot Cruz and was immediately handcuffed. An ambulance was called, but nothing could be done about the wound. The fake handgun was tucked into the teen’s waistband and the rifle lay beside him.  Middle School Assistant Principal Linsey Gannon told CNN, "He was a very popular student. He was a handsome young man with many friends and a lovely family. He will be missed." On Wednesday night, a crowd gathered to hold a memorial. They grief-stricken members of the community congregated in the dirt field where Cruz was shot. It turned into a rally against the police officers that shot the teen. Cruz’s’ mother was too upset to comment. Obviously this casts a black shadow over the Santa Rose police department. Recently, school shootings have been out of control. Are people going to understand the officer’s brash reaction? Or was the police officer too quick to jump the gun?