CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture has asked the city of Cleveland to delay the demolition of the gazebo where 12-year-old Tamir Rice was fatally shot by police in 2014.

In an email Monday, the museum's Senior History Curator William Pretzer told Cleveland Law Director Barbara Langhenry that the museum "is in talks with Black Lives Matter concerning options for preserving the gazebo, given its importance to African-American history."

Pretzer asked the city to hold off on the demolition for 60 days while the museum finalizes discussions on the issue.

It's unclear whether the museum would seek to relocate the gazebo to the museum, which is under construction in Washington D.C. and will open later this year, according to its website. Pretzer could not be immediately reached for comment Monday.

The city was expected to begin dismantling the gazebo this week. A city spokesman has not returned calls for comment.

Subodh Chandra, attorney for Tamir's family, told cleveland.com last week that the family supported the demolition plan, and in place of the gazebo, would like to erect a "tasteful, modest" memorial to Tamir.

In an interview Monday, Chandra said the family also would support the relocation of the gazebo and its display in a museum exhibit.

"Ms. Rice was interested in seeing the gazebo demolished and gone," Chandra said. "But when she heard about this proposal, she understood the historic importance of (the gazebo) and was supportive of the concept if the museum is interested in acquiring it and will handle the matter in a tasteful and appropriate way."

Tamir was gunned down on Nov. 22, 2014 while police officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback were responding to a 911 call about a "guy" with a gun in the park. Tamir turned out to have been carrying a pellet gun.

A grand jury declined to indict the officers in December in connection to the shooting. The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, which resulted in a $6 million settlement last month. An internal review of the events surrounding Tamir's death is ongoing.