A police officer from Tempe, Arizona, shot down a 14-year-old airsoft pistol

A 14 year old boy wearing an airsoft gun was shot dead by a police officer on Tuesday.

Officers responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle, discovered a person "who was robbing the vehicle" just after 2:30 pm MST (4:30 pm ET) Tuesday, according to a statement from the Tempe Police Department.

When the police approached, the suspect ran away with what he thought was a handgun, the statement said. An officer ran after the suspect gave "verbal orders" and during the pursuit "perceived a threat" and fired with his weapon, hitting the teenager. They did not specify the number of shots.

Officers called paramedics and performed CPR, but the boy was later declared dead at the hospital.

The weapon found near the unidentified victim, aged 14, was a replica of the 1911 model. An airsoft pistol, which, according to the police, was stolen in the car with d & # 39; other objects.

Police said that the bullet had been captured on the camera of the corpse of the officer, and the Tempe Police Department would investigate the incident as well as the County Attorney's Office. Maricopa. [19659012] The man whose car was robbed told NBC affiliate KPNX that the boy's pistol was his and that he "did not deserve to die because of something he had taken me.

Elisha Fieldstadt

Elisha Fieldstadt is a reporter for NBC News.