Police Shoot 13-Year Old

On many occasions, Israeli soldiers and other security personnel have been accused of unnecessary lethal violence directed at Arab youngsters who are either demonstrating in a violent manner, usually stone-throwing and sometimes tossing molotov cocktails or, being wanted, are shot during an arrest procedure.

Here's one example:

Nadim Melham was shot dead in unclear circumstances by the Israeli police at his home in the Arab village of Arara in northern Israel on January 19...They claim he tried to escape and, when cornered, pulled out a gun and cocked the trigger. He was shot in the chest by officers defending themselves, say police.

The family, however, say Melham was sleeping in his room when the police broke in and that he was shot in cold blood. One relative alleges that the police had been trying to recruit Melham as an informer for some time and that he had angered officers by repeatedely [sic] refusing to cooperate.

Another:

Anti-Israel protests in Hebron quickly turned into violent riots on Thursday, as tempers flared a day after the killing of a Palestinian teen who assaulted border police with a fake gun.

Hundreds of Palestinians threw rocks at the Israeli guard post where the teenager, Mohammed Salayme, who accosted an officer at the inspection point with a pistol, was shot by a second police officer. Later, the gun turned out to have been a fake.

Some 40 protesters were reported injured, many from inhaling teargas. Next to the Cave of the Patriarchs, rioters hurled a firebomb at Israeli soldiers.

Is this perhaps an evil policy of the IDF, to target youngsters, innocent of any wrong doing?

Or can such things happen in the course of policing activity, whether or not the youngster is guilty of anything?

For example, what happened today, in the United States:
 

California Sheriff's Deputies Shoot, Kill 13-Year-Old

Northern California sheriff's deputies shot and killed a 13-year-old boy who was carrying a replica assault rifle after repeatedly telling him to drop it, sheriff's officials and family members said.  Two Sonoma County deputies on patrol saw the boy walking with what appeared to be a rifle around 3 p.m. Tuesday in Santa Rosa, Sheriff's Lt. Dennis O'Leary said. The replica gun resembled an AK-47 with a black magazine cartridge and brown butt, according to a photograph released by the sheriff's office...Deputies would only learn after the shooting that it was a replica, according to O'Leary.
After spotting the boy, the deputies called for backup and repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon, O'Leary said in a news release. They fired several rounds from their handguns immediately afterward, according to O'Leary.  A neighbor in the area, Brian Zastrow, told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat he heard seven shots...The boy fell to the ground on top of the rifle, according to O'Leary. O'Leary said the deputies ordered him to move away from the weapon before approaching him and putting him in handcuffs.

Is it a problem of police mentality?

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