Who was Patrick Lyoya? SHOCKING video shows cop kneeling over Black man shoot him in the head
Warning: The article contains graphic footage
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN: Police in Michigan have released video footage of an officer shooting a Black man dead after a struggle during a traffic stop last week. Patrick Lyoya, 26, was shot dead on April 4 outside a house in Grand Rapids. The murder has triggered widespread outrage and renewed calls for action against police atrocities toward Black people.
The shocking footage shows Lyoya running from an officer after being stopped for driving with a license plate that did not belong to the vehicle. The two were seen struggling in front of a number of homes. The officer demanded that Lyoya "let go" of his Taser. At one point, he said, "Drop the Taser!”
READ MORE
The fight lasted for about 90 seconds, following which the officer, who was on top of Lyoya kneeling on his back, shot him in the head. “From my view of the video, Taser was deployed twice. Taser did not make contact,” Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom told reporters. “And Mr Lyoya was shot in the head. However, that’s the only information that I have.”
Newly released video shows a Grand Rapids (MI) police officer shooting unarmed 26 yo Patrick Lyoya while he was on the ground & facing away from the officer! Patrick never used violence against this officer even though the officer used violence against him in several instances. pic.twitter.com/5vNSWDYUpz
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) April 13, 2022
Not much is known about Lyoya except that he was a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Following his death, hundreds of protestors gathered outside a Michigan police station to condemn the killing. Lyoya is survived by two young daughters and five siblings, Gov Gretchen Whitmer confirmed. “He arrived in the United States as a refugee with his family fleeing violence. He had his whole life ahead of him,” the Democrat said. The officer who killed Lyoya is a seven-year veteran and has been placed on paid leave while the shooting is being probed.
HAPPENING NOW: Hundreds gather outside the Grand Rapids Police Department to protest the shooting of 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya. Police released videos of the deadly police shooting earlier today. @wwmtnews pic.twitter.com/tU0Drx3NJo
— Trisha McCauley (@TrishaWWMT) April 13, 2022
A GoFundMe has been set up by Lyoya to raise money for his funeral. "Help us Raise money for Patrick lyoya funeral Who was shot and killed by a police man and he was taken away from us so suddenly. Patrick was a father of 2 daughters and a big brother to 5 siblings. Patrick loved playing soccer and spending time with his loved ones but now he can’t do that anymore. Help us raise money for his funeral. Anything helps!" the page reads. At the time this article was written, $39,594 USD had been raised of the $30,000 goal
This incident is a chilling reminder of the murder of George Floyd, which had triggered protests worldwide. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was murdered near the intersection of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Derek Chauvin, who was then a police officer with the Minneapolis Police Department, was found guilty of the crime.