A group of hackers claimed responsibility for shutting down the city of Cleveland's websites on Monday after police killed a 12-year-old boy over the weekend

MOSCOW, November 25 (Sputnik) — In retaliation for the police killing of a twelve-year-old boy in Cleveland and the fact that the names of the Police officers who shot him have not been released yet, the hacker group Anonymous claimed responsibility for shutting down the Cleveland city website early on Monday, reports VICE News.

Anonymous is a loosely associated international network of activist and hacktivist entities. Anonymous is made up of individuals who hack into computer systems without permission and take data such as communications records, names, addresses, phone numbers, and credit cards.

The group has become known for a series of well-publicized publicity stunts and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on government, religious, and corporate websites.

The hacker group claimed responsibility for shutting down the Cleveland city website after the boy in Cleveland died due to injuries sustained in the police shooting. The boy was shot by police after he displayed a replica gun at a Cleveland recreation center. The Cleveland Police Department said in a statement that the child had not complied with orders to raise his hands. Instead, he apparently reached towards his waist band for the replica gun. The child had reportedly been pointing the toy weapon at members of the public outside the Cudell Recreation Center, prompting a 911 call, reports Reuters.

The boy was taken to Metro Health Hospital for surgery on Saturday and remained in critical condition until his death early Sunday.

The two officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave. One of them was treated at Fairview Hospital for an ankle injury, reports Reuters.

According to a report on Cleveland.com that cited the deputy chief of police, Rice did not confront the officer verbally or physically. His father, Gregory Henderson, has questioned the use of lethal force saying, "Why not taze him? You shot him twice, not once, and at the end of the day you all don't shoot for the legs, you shoot for the upper body," as reported VICE News.

The Department's Use of Deadly Force Investigation Team is currently investigating the incident.