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Grand Rapids Police Department has released footage of the April 4 killing of Patrick Lyoya.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom committed to release the footage of the shooting by noon April 15. The footage was released in the evening of April 13.
“This is transparency about the use of force incident,” Chief Winstrom said in a press conference Wednesday evening. “What I wanted to do today was provide to you the basic information that I have in the spirit of transparency.”
WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised. This video contains graphic content.
Grand Rapids officer kills Patrick Lyoya, shot in back of head
On April 4, police said Lyoya was pulled over for a traffic stop that led to a lengthy fight between him and the police officer. After a couple minutes of wrestling on the ground, the officer can be heard yelling “let go of the taser” multiple times.
After yelling “drop the taser” the officer pulls out his gun and shoots Lyoya in the back of the head from point blank range, while pressing Lyoya’s head into the ground. The unnamed officer fired one shot, killing Lyoya.
The body camera worn by the officer was activated at the beginning of the stop, and then at some point during the struggle with Lyoya became unactivated.
Chief Winstrom claimed in the press conference that the only way for the bodycam to become unactivated is if there was a 3-second press and hold, implying that must have happened during the struggle. The bodycam later turns back on a few minutes later on the ground while officers are attempting to apply CPR to Lyoya.
The footage showing the shooting is taken by a cell phone video from the passenger that was in the car with Lyoya.
Chief Winstrom said the investigation of the use of force is being handled by Michigan State Police and the officer who fired the shot would not be named unless charges are brought.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is made available.
Imagine if he just complied. It’s simple.
Imagine the officer didn’t disable his camera! Transparent/nothing to hide, right?
Even if Lyoya had the tazer, is the tazer considered a deadly weapon? I say no, as police use it regularly and is never considered deadly when they use it, so why did this officer execute this man. This was an execution in my opinion. An don’t tell me I wasn’t there. I been there, I carried a badge. Never shot a person because he would not comply. I fought many though guy, I got my ass kicked on several occasions but never shot somebody because he was fighting me. Specially on a traffic stop. My gun only came out if the other person pulled a gun or I clearly saw that he was going for a gun or a some type of large knife. Police now days are to scare to take someone down on a one on one. I say charge this officer with murder. More officers need to be hold accountable for their actions. If they can’t handle the heat, quit, and go to work in a safe job.
Oh, David! What was he supposed to comply with? Since you were there? Thats BS!
Even if he had the taser handy and used it to taser officer…big deal, it wouldnt of killed him. Another cop killer out there….Cheap way to kill somebody, execution style. Hope he rots in hell.