Marchers Protest After California Deputies Kill 13-Year-Old Boy Carrying a Fake Gun

In Sonoma County, Calif., sheriff's deputies shot and killed a 13-year-old boy on Tuesday because he was carrying a toy rifle that deputies believed to be real.

The boy was walking down the street in Santa Rosa, Calif. at 3 p.m. when the incident occurred, Gawker confirms. Officers saw Andy Lopez walking home from school wearing a blue hoodie and carrying what they believed to be a real rifle. The deputies called for backup and ordered him to drop the rifle. According to eye witness reports, Lopez turned around to face the officers and the officers shot the boy "at least once." Later reports say he was shot seven times.

"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," Lt. Paul Henry said. He said that the deputy, fearing "for his safety, the safety of his partner, and the safety of the community members in the area," started to shoot. Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene after deputies handcuffed him and concluded that he was not reponsive.

Authorities also said that Lopez had a plastic gun in his waistband. The rifle he was carrying was a replica of an AK-47 rifle.

Teachers described Lopez as "kind, intelligent, and capable." On Wednesday, family friend Alma Galvan asked the San Francisco Chronicle, "Why did they have to kill him?" Another family friend, Ezau Ruiz, told KTVU that the community is fed up with frequent police violence.

"We're not gonna let this one slide. Enough is enough," Ruiz said.

The residents of the town, which is 50 miles northwest of San Francisco in California wine country, were devastated by the boy's death. 

Hundreds marched Wednesday night in what was part vigil, part protest, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reports. Hundreds gathered at the field where he was killed to remember the slain teen, while also chanting "We need justice." 

"We don't know the reason why they killed him," Katia Ontiveros, 18, told the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa. "They should know if a gun is real."

The marchers left candles, teddy bears and flowers at the site where he was shot. 

Andy, who played trumpet in his school band, was described as being a bright and popular student.

In a statement, Sheriff Steve Freitas said the shooting was a "tragedy" and that they would have a thorough investigation of the shooting. 

"As a father of two boys about this age, I can't begin to imagine the grief this family is going through," he said.

Andy's father, Rodrigo Lopez, told the newspaper that the gun was a toy that belonged to a friend of his son's. He said he saw his son for the last time on Tuesday morning. 

"I told him what I tell him every day," Lopez said in Spanish. "Behave yourself."