Airsoft AK-47 similar to the one carried by 13-year-old Andy Lopez when he was shot and killed by a Sonoma County Sheriff's deputy. Reports say Lopez's rifle did not have an orange tip to indicate it was a BB gun.
Sonoma County, Calif., sheriff's deputies shot and killed a 13-year-old boy who was carrying an Airsoft replica of an AK-47 Tuesday afternoon during an encounter in a southwest Santa Rosa neighborhood.
At 3 p.m., two sheriff's deputies patrolling in the area of Moorland and West Robles avenues observed Andy Lopez walking with what sheriff's officials said appeared to be some type of rifle, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
The deputies called for backup and repeatedly ordered the boy to drop the rifle, Sheriff's Lt. Dennis O'Leary said in a news release.
At some point after the deputies told Lopez to drop the rifle, they fired several rounds from their handguns at the boy, who was hit multiple times, O'Leary said.
Lopez was later pronounced dead at the scene. Neither deputy was injured, said Sheriff's Lt. Steve Brown. Sheriff's officials did not release the names of the deputies Tuesday, but said both had been placed on administrative leave.
The shooting has triggered a number of protests in the community. Santa Rosa police are investigating.
