Police in Columbus, OH, are facing questions after a 13-year-old boy named Tyree King was fatally shot by an officer for reportedly drawing a BB gun. Late on the night of Sept. 14, officers responded to an armed robbery call and located King [1] and two other suspects in an alley near the scene of the incident, reports NBC. Once they approached, the suspects fled.

King then pulled what appeared to be a gun from his waistband, according to police, leading an officer to shoot him multiple times. The weapon turned out to be a BB gun. During a press conference about the incident, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs held up an image of the BB gun, illustrating how similar to a real weapon it appears. King was pronounced dead at the hospital at 8:22 p.m., shortly after the armed robbery call was placed at 7:42 p.m.

The officer who shot king, Bryan Mason, is a nine-year veteran on the force and was placed on administrative leave, according to NBC. Police didn't say if Mason was wearing a body camera or not.

Many people on Twitter struggled to reconcile King's possible crime with his death.

You can acknowledge that it's possible #TyreeKing [2] committed a crime, while also acknowledging that the punishment for robbery isn't death.

— KendraJames (Harlem) (@KendraJames_) September 15, 2016 [3]

There is no need for this! He was a 13yo kid. Put ur bullet proof vest on & aim for a non fatal location if u feel u must shoot #TyreeKing [4]

— Drew Ryan Scott (@drewryanscott) September 15, 2016 [5]

People have wasted no time blaming #TyreeKing [6] for his own death. He had a BB gun. He was 13. He didn't have to die. #BlackLivesMatter [7]

— Sam White (@samwhiteout) September 15, 2016 [8]

13-year-old white children walk around with BB guns all the time. The difference is they are not targeted and executed for it. #TyreeKing [9]

— Brotha B (@BlakeDontCrack) September 15, 2016 [10]

If you find yourself criminalizing #TyreeKing [11], a dead, 13-year-old, instead of expressing your condolences to his family, you're a demon.

— LEFT✍🏾 (@LeftSentThis) September 15, 2016 [12]

Others implied the officer was justified in using force.

#TyreeKing [13]
1. Used the BB Gun in a robbery.
2. Attempted to pull the BB gun on officers.
3. You blame the police - I blame the parents.

— FERRARI FORBES (@ferrariforbes) September 15, 2016 [14]

Instead of blaming the police, maybe you should teach your children not to rob people or point guns at police officers. #TyreeKing [15]

— Makada (@_Makada_) September 15, 2016 [16]

I had a BB gun when I was a young minority in the ghetto.
Never pointed it at a cop.
Still alive.
Probably just a coincidence.#TyreeKing [17]

— el ¡Soopèr! ن (@SooperMexican) September 15, 2016 [18]

The incident bears a striking similarity to the 2014 slaying of Tamir Rice [19], a black 12-year-old who was wielding a toy gun when he was shot by Cleveland police in a park. Rice was not a suspect in a crime, but officers said he reached into his waistband and pulled out the gun, prompting his shooting. Frame-by-frame analysis of the surveillance camera footage [20], however, did not provide conclusive images to corroborate or disprove the claim.