The city of Cleveland, OH continues to disregard the life of Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old who was fatally shot by police officers while playing with a toy gun in the park. There was no officer charged with the young boy’s murder, and 15 months later, the city is now charging the Rice family for his final ambulance ride.

On Wednesday afternoon, in probate court, the family of Tamir Rice was charged $500 for the young boy’s ride in the ambulance. The notice from the city states that his family is charged “for emergency medical services rendered as the decedent’s last dying expense under Ohio Revised Code.” $450 of the charge is for the “advance life support” that did not save him while the last $50 is for the mileage driven by the ambulance en route to the hospital.

“ […] Who on earth would think this was a good idea and file this on behalf of the city? This adds insult to homicide. The mayor and law director should apologize to the Rice family and withdraw this filing immediately,” states Subodh Chandra, one of the Rice family’s attorneys.

City spokesman, Dan Williams had very little to say in light of the charge, stating that “this is ongoing litigation, and we do not comment on ongoing litigation,” much like the city’s 41-page response to the family’s lawsuit, claiming that Tamir died because he did not care “to exercise due care to avoid injury.”

The city responded to the public outcry of insensitivity, saying that if a potential insurance company or an estate that will absorb the cost is indicated, then “the city is obligated to reimburse Medicaid and seek payment from that source.”

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