Law enforcement and city officials in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are facing growing calls for accountability and explanations after the Grand Rapids Police Department released footage showing one of its officers shooting Patrick Lyoya, an unarmed Black man, in the head after a brief struggle during a traffic stop this month.
Lyoya, a 26-year-old Congolese immigrant and father of two, had been pulled over on April 4 for what police say was improper license plates. As the traffic stop progressed, the videos released by the city show Lyoya exiting his car, and — after being told to return to his vehicle by the officer — briefly grappling with the as-of-yet unnamed policeman who attempted to grab and detain him. Lyoya can then be seen running from the officer who eventually wrestles him to the ground and attempts to subdue him with a Taser, which Lyoya appears to block. Although the officer repeatedly yells “drop the Taser,” an eyewitness whose cellphone footage was released by the city Wednesday is heard insisting Lyoya had not touched the weapon. The officer is then seen pulling his firearm and, seemingly positioned above Lyoya as Lyoya lies face down, shoots him once in the head.
