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Who was Patrick Lyoya? SHOCKING video shows cop kneeling over Black man shoot him in the head

During a struggle at a traffic stop, an officer, who was on top of Lyoya kneeling on his back, shot him in the head
UPDATED APR 14, 2022
Patrick Lyoya was a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo (@AttorneyCrump/Twitter and GoFundMe)
Patrick Lyoya was a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo (@AttorneyCrump/Twitter and GoFundMe)

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!”

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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.”



 

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.



 

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. 

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