A man walking around an Ohio neighborhood with a rifle strapped to his back has sparked fears among residents after police said he was allowed to do so because 'he was not breaking any laws'.

Daniel Kovacevic is being allowed to exercise 'his right to carry a weapon in the open carry state' as he is not breaking any laws, police said.

But his presence in Akron, an area located just 45 minutes away from Cleveland Ohio - where Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African American boy was gunned down by cops in 2014 - has sparked fears.

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Daniel Kovacevic is being allowed to exercise his right to carry a weapon in the 'open carry state'

Kovacevic, 25, heads down East Exchange Street towards Mason Community Learning Center with his military style assault rifle strapped to his back in Akron, Ohio on Friday

Police said that Kovacevic is not breaking any laws by carrying the weapons and is legally allowed to do so

Traneece Johnson, 26, a local resident said that she believes race is a factor in the police's assertion that Kovacevic 'is not a threat'

Traneece Johnson, 26, a local resident told The Cleveland Plain Dealer that she believes race is a factor in the police's assertion that 'he is not a threat'.

'It's different if it's a black person. People say it isn't, but it is,' Johnson said.

'[Kovacevic] was approached, and they gave him a chance to speak and say he was expressing his right. The little boy [Tamir Rice] didn't get that chance.'

Rice, a 12-year-old kid was gunned down by a white Cleveland patrolman who shot the boy after reports to 911 that someone had a gun.

Rookie cop, Timothy Loehmann alleges that he thought that it was real and shot him within two seconds of jumping out of a patrol car outside a recreation center on November 22, 2014.

Rice was shot once in the torso and died on the operating table a day later.

The child was, in fact, carrying a pellet gun which was a nonlethal, Airsoft-type gun that shoots plastic pellets.

Kovacevic sits for a interview to talk about the Israeli military style assault rifle strapped to his back in Akron, Ohio. The 25 year old says he's never been a crime victim but started wearing a pistol about two years ago and added the rifle recently after he thought someone was about to steal the pistol

Kovacevic has thanked people for offering him 'support and encouragement' on his Facebook page for his decision to carry the large rifle near the University of Akron campus

Akron Police Department have said that Kovacevic is merely 'exercising his right' to carry a weapon

A local resident says that police approached Kovacevic and gave him a chance to speak about why he had a gun on his back but it is not always the same for an African American seen carrying a weapon

Kovacevic said: 'I generally carry an open carry pistol (pictured) when I am out and about, and these walks are no exception'

His presence in the area located just 45 minutes away from Cleveland Ohio - where Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African American boy was gunned down by cops in 2014 - has sparked fears among black residents

Tamir Rice, 12, was carrying a nonlethal, Airsoft-type gun that shoots plastic pellets when police officer Timothy Loehmann shot him twice outside a recreation center on November 22, 2014. He died a day later.

In a video posted to Glen Parker's Facebook, one local resident, who is African American, described the fact that Kovacevic is being allowed to walk around with guns as 'crazy.'

He told police: 'I'm riled up, this is wrong. It's crazy that you allow him to do that sh**. And f*** y'all for allowing it.'

Rice (pictured) was carrying a nonlethal, Airsoft-type gun that shoots plastic pellets when Loehmann shot him twice outside a recreation center

Adding later: 'If I strapped a gun to my back and walked around SWAT would be on me.'

Kovacevic responded: 'This is my right... I'm a Christian. I believe that Christians are called to love others. And I understand that people are frightened. But the Bible says 'do not fear'. God is with you...

'I understand people have feelings about this. But I am not gonna change what I do unless it becomes clear to me that what i'm doing is wrong and so far it hasn't been that..'

Meanwhile, Kovacevic also took to Facebook to thank people for offering him 'support and encouragement' over his decision to carry the large rifle. He wrote: 'At this point, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. God bless.'

He said he 'generally carries an open carry pistol when he's out and about, and these walks are no exception.'

Video of him walking near the University of Akron campus with the weapon on his back has been viewed more than 80,000 times.

Preston May, a white student, also waded in expressing the same concerns as local black residents.

He told Cleveland.com that 'someone walking around with a gun is definitely creepy. Especially with all of the stuff happening in the world...I think it's unnecessary walking around with a gun. It just causes panic.'