St. Louis police under fire for tone-deaf post about 12-year-old killed by cops: 'Kids will be kids'

The St. Louis County Police Department on Thursday posted, then swiftly deleted, a Facebook message that suggested Cleveland police acted properly in killing a 12-year-old boy who was playing with a toy gun.

The message warned that kids seen playing with Airsoft pistols in St. Louis County "may be ordered to lie down on the ground" because the guns look so realistic. "Police will respond lights and sirens and come to a screeching halt in the area where your child is playing with the gun," the message read. (You can read a screenshot of the full post here.)

In late November, Cleveland police shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice within seconds of approaching him.

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