Shocking footage which shows the fatal police shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice has been released by Cleveland authorities.

The CCTV video shows Rice pointing a pellet gun around the Cudell Recreation Center, before the police arrive 10 minutes later and shoot him.

Whilst there is no audio on the video, and the view of Rice is obscured by the car, the officers claim they told Rice to raise his hands three times before he reached for his pellet gun, and was then subsequently shot in response.

Cleveland police said the two officers involved were Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback, with both now on leave.

In a statement, Rice's family described Tamir as "a bright young man who had his whole life ahead of him."

"Though the hurt our family feels is too painful for words to describe, we still have faith in the justice system," it said.