Deputy kills 13-year- old carrying fake rifle

(CNN) -- A sheriff's deputy mistakenly
thought he saw a teen carrying an assault
rifle on a California street this week and
shot him dead, authorities said.
It turned out the 13-year-old boy was
carrying two fake guns, a replica AK-47 and
a fake hand gun, the Santa Rosa County
Sheriff's office said.
The Tuesday shooting is being investigated,
the sheriff's office said.
School officials in the northern California
city of Santa Rosa identified the teen as
Andy Lopez Cruz.
"The Santa Rosa City School District family
is deeply saddened by the loss of Andy
Lopez Cruz," a school system statement
said. "This is a tragic event for family,
schools and the community. His
administrators and teachers will remember
him as kind, intelligent and capable."
Two deputies spotted the boy holding what
appeared to be an assault rifle Tuesday
afternoon, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's
office said.
They pulled over "but maintained cover
behind their open passenger door," the
press release said.
They yelled at the teen to put the weapon
down. He had his back to them and began
turning around towards the officers, the
statement said.
"One of the deputies described that as the
subject was turning toward him the barrel
of the assault rifle was rising up and
turning in his direction. The deputy feared
for his safety, the safety of his partner, and
the safety of the community members in
the area," the statement said.
A deputy shot the teen. The teen was
handcuffed, and the officers called for an
ambulance, the statement said. Deputies
found the fake rifle on the ground near the
boy. The bogus handgun was tucked in his
waistband.
Cruz's classmates were crestfallen by the
news, Lawrence Cook Middle School
Assistant Principal Linsey Gannon told CNN
affiliate KRON.
"He was a very popular student," Gannon
told the affiliate. "He was a handsome
young man with many friends and a lovely
family. He will be missed."