North Miami Beach, Florida (AP) - A man whose family said he was autistic, was killed by police in North Miami Beach after pointing a toy gun look real to an officer, police said Thursday .
Police responded to 911 calls about a man seen walking in the afternoon in the neighborhood with a rifle Wednesday, North Miami Beach Police Chief Thomas M. Carney. The officers gave orders to men to drop his weapon, but he refused and said that an officer, Mr. Carney.
The man identified as Ernest Vassell, 57, wore a realistic toy could be mistaken for a rifle or shotgun, police said.