Cops should be charged in death of Cleveland boy: judge

Two US police officers involved in the shooting death of a 12-year-old black boy who was holding a toy gun should face criminal charges, a judge ruled Thursday.

The Cleveland Municipal Court judge cautioned, however, that his opinion is "advisory in nature" and it is ultimately up to the "discretion of the city's prosecuting authority" to file charges, the local ABC News station reported.

The ruling comes after community leaders took advantage of an unusual law which allows residents to bypass prosecutors and ask judges to issue arrest warrants.

Tamir Rice was shot dead seconds after the two police officers arrived at a recreation center following a call that "a guy with a pistol" was pointing it at people.

While the caller told the dispatcher that the gun was "probably fake," police said this was not passed along to the responding officers.