© Phil Noble / Reuters
Officers said they saw three suspects fitting their descriptions and approached them. Two of the suspects fled on foot while officers tried to arrest the third suspect, identified as 13-year-old Tyree King.
"Officers followed the males to the alley ... and attempted to take them into custody when one suspect pulled a gun from his waistband," police said in a statement early Thursday. "One officer shot and struck the suspect multiple times."
The boy was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital where he was later pronounced dead Wednesday evening.
Another suspect, who was with King, was later taken into custody and released pending further investigation. Police said they were looking for additional suspects.
No officers were injured in the incident. It was later determined by detectives that King's suspected firearm was a BB gun with an attached laser scope.
The officer who opened fire has been with the force for nine years, according to WKYC. Police said the incident is under investigation.
In November 2014 Cleveland Police Department shot dead 12-year-old African American boy Tamir Rice who was in possession of a gun which later turned out to be an airsoft replica.
Earlier this year the city of Cleveland was ordered to pay $6 million to the family of Rice.
Police killings of African Americans have sparked more widespread protests across the US in recent months following the high profile killings of Philando Castille and Alton Sterling.
Look at the cover picture! We don't have police anymore in this country. We have State paid Gun Slingers. Guns for hire with a license to kill and total immunity from prosecution. All this is part of the state of emergency declared in 911 and renewed every year after. We are living in a defacto police state. Thanks Dick.