Police in Ohio shoot dead 13-year-old who pulled out replica gun

Police in Ohio have shot and killed a 13-year-old boy who drew a weapon that turned out to be a BB gun.

It happened on Wednesday as they were investigating reports of an armed robbery in the state capital, Columbus.

A police statement said when officers arrived on the scene they were told by the robbery victim that a group of people had approached him and demanded money.

The victim said that one of them had a gun.

Officers saw three males matching the descriptions of the suspects and tried to speak to them, but two ran off into an alley.

A man holds an Airsoft plastic BB gun in front of a shop display of the  replica firearms

The teenager is said to have been carrying a replica BB gun. File pic
"(They) followed the males to the alley … and attempted to take them into custody when one suspect pulled a gun from his waistband," the statement said.

"One officer shot and struck the suspect multiple times."

The suspect, later named as Tyree King, was taken to a children's hospital, where he died.

The male with him was interviewed and released pending further investigation.

The officers and the other suspect were not injured.

Police said it was later determined King's weapon was a BB gun — a type of air gun — with an attached laser sight.

An inquiry has been launched into the incident.