A 13-year-old boy carrying a replica assault rifle has been shot dead by police in the US state of California, the BBC reports.

Officers in the city of Santa Rosa say they opened fire after the boy refused orders to drop the rifle, which they believed to be real.

The shooting on Tuesday is now being investigated.

It comes a day after a 12-year-old boy in Nevada shot dead a maths teacher at his school and wounded two fellow pupils before taking his own life.

In the latest incident, two sheriff’s deputies saw the teenager “with what appeared to be some type of rifle”, a news release from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s office said.

The deputies called for backup and repeatedly ordered the boy to drop the gun before firing several rounds from their handguns, police said.

The boy, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was later identified by his family as Andy Lopez.

“He was holding the weapon in his left hand. He began to turn toward his right in the direction of the deputy, and in so doing he moved the gun toward the deputy, and the deputy’s mindset was that he was fearful he would be shot,” Lt Paul Henry of Santa Rosa police said.

But the boy’s father, Rodrigo Lopez said the shooting made no sense. “My son lost his life. He’s not alive any more just because of the mistake of somebody.”

The replica gun had belonged to a friend, he said.

The sheriff’s office said a plastic handgun had also been found in the boy’s waistband.

Olly barbie219: Reminds me of a story 'toy guns' d kids were so obsessed wit toy guns,dat dey practiced every actions dey watched in movies with their toys..til dey got in2 trouble. y must dis toys be produced?? Wats d motive of parents hu hand dis toys 2 their kids?..one day such kids wd grow up n want 2 handle the real ones.

Alfa Seltzer:

What's wrong in wanting to handle a real gun? Are soldiers not handling real guns?

If we follow your twisted one sided logic, toy cars may make kids want to steal cars when they grow up. Toy barbie dolls will make girls want to become prostitutes, etc.

Officers in the city of Santa
Rosa say they opened fire
after the boy refused orders
to drop the rifle, which they
believed to be real.

Alfa Seltzer:

What's wrong in wanting to handle a real gun? Are soldiers not handling real guns?

If we follow your twisted one sided logic, toy cars may make kids want to steal cars when they grow up. Toy barbie dolls will make girls want to become prostitutes, etc.

Alfa Seltzer:

What's wrong in wanting to handle a real gun? Are soldiers not handling real guns?

If we follow your twisted one sided logic, toy cars may make kids want to steal cars when they grow up. Toy barbie dolls will make girls want to become prostitutes, etc.

Alfa Seltzer:

What's wrong in wanting to handle a real gun? Are soldiers not handling real guns?

If we follow your twisted one sided logic, toy cars may make kids want to steal cars when they grow up. Toy barbie dolls will make girls want to become prostitutes, etc.

slap1: Shlt happens. Rest in peace, boy.

However, from carrying toy guns, he may graduate to the real thing.

mr_king:
What is this one saying? Some of you just come here and spew Nonsense!!! What gave him the guts to have refused order to surrender his Gun when he was asked to do so repeatedly? At this time and age, everyone is a suspect! Never underrate anyone! Including a day old child.

Alfa Seltzer: I hope the family sues the incompetent police force.

Having a gun is not unlawful in California and holding one is not a justifiable cause to be shot. But here we are even talking of a toy gun which if the policement have had a good training would have distinguished from a real one. Moreover, it's being held by a small boy! Those police never tell the real story!

Tolexander: oh!

They've killed future Arnold Schweinsteiger[color=#990000][/color]!