On January 5, 2012 tragedy struck in Brownsville, Texas.  Eighth grader Jamie Gonzalez had brought a pellet gun to school that dangerously resembled a real gun. He was then shot by the police in the hallway; thankfully no one else was injured.  Many say that the officer’s actions were justifiable, however, Jamie’s father wanted to know why so much force was used. “Three shots. Why not one that would bring him down?” asks his father.

The story seems to start early in the morning.  Jamie had picked a fight with another student randomly who was also said to have a gun.  Jamie was roaming the halls and showing off his weapon.  When administration saw, the assistant principle called 911 saying that he had drawn his weapon and was running down the hall.

According to Interim Police Chief Orlando Rodriguez, Jamie was given chances to lower his weapon, which was pointed at police, and follow their orders.  In a recording you are able to hear police officers yelling, “Put the gun down! Put it on the floor!”  Officers did what they believe had to be done in order to protect themselves, and the few students that were still in the halls.

Pellet guns, by law must be sold with an orange band around the barrel to separate them from an actual gun.  Many people remove these bands or paint them to look more like an actual weapon. Without being able to distinguish Jamie’s toy pellet gun from a real gun officers had to take action.

His parents are baffled about how their son came across such a thing.  His mother says they would never give something like that to their son.  Investigators believe it may have been a gift from a friend.  The school was closed Thursday and Friday following the incident, so police could further investigate everything that happened on that fatal day.