A 13-year-old retarded boy who was carrying a toy gun his neighbors called his most cherished possession was shot to death by police officers who mistook the plastic pistol for a real weapon, according to officials.

Artogi Groshe was hit by a single bullet in the head Wednesday night and was dead on arrival at San Francisco General Hospital.

Officers Michael Huddleson and Janet Campbell, investigating reports of shots in the area, spotted Groshe carrying what they thought was a .22-caliber pistol.

They stopped their cruiser about 40 feet away from the boy. Using the open car doors as shields, they drew their guns.


“The suspect turned around with a gun in his hand, crouched down and let out a loud scream,” Police Sgt. Jerome Senkir said. “Both officers opened fire.”

The officers fired four shots from their .357 Magnum service revolvers.

The officers said the toy gun looked “very realistic,” Senkir said. Both officers were reassigned to the homicide unit, and the incident is being investigated. But Senkir said, “By all indications, it appears the officers acted properly and with probable cause.”

Shocked neighbors said the toy gun was one of the most cherished possessions of Groshe, who was described as big for his age, nearly 6 feet tall and about 190 pounds.


Neighbor Frank Fua said Groshe “played with the gun all the time.”

“He waved it around and would point it at anything: buses, trees, the water tower,” said Fua, 19.

Another neighbor, Jacquelyn Black, 29, said residents tried to look out for the retarded boy because he was “careless.”

“He can’t even speak English. He mumbles,” she said.