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Sonoma County Deputies Fatally Shoot Suspect Carrying Replica Rifle

Editor's Note: It was originally reported the individual the deputies shot was a man. CBS San Francisco learned Wednesday morning that the person shot was a 13-year-old boy.

SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) -- Sonoma County sheriff's deputies shot and killed a suspect with a replica rifle south of Santa Rosa Tuesday afternoon, according to the sheriff's office.

The person with the gun was reported around 3 p.m. near the corner of Moorland and West Robles avenues, sheriff's Lt. Dennis O'Leary said.

After finding him there, they called for backup and two deputies ordered him to drop the gun and then fired several shots at him until he fell to the ground on top of the rifle, O'Leary said.

The deputies ordered the suspect on the ground to move away from the rifle and when he did not comply they handcuffed him and realized he was unresponsive.

They then secured the rifle and called for medical attention, however he was pronounced dead at the scene, O'Leary said.

Deputies then discovered that the gun he had been carrying was a replica, and he also had a plastic gun in his waistband. O'Leary said the person is believed to have lived in the area where he was killed.

The deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted by police from Santa Rosa and Petaluma and the district attorney's office.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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