The Grand Rapids Police Department has released video footage of an officer who fatally shot 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya during a fatal traffic stop last week.
The incident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. on Monday, April 4 near the junction of Griggs Street and Nelson Avenue SE in Grand Rapids.
A GRPD cop started a traffic stop on a vehicle with a defective license plate, according to authorities. Lyoya, who was driving the car, fled on foot from authorities.
Lyoya was fatally shot after a physical confrontation with the officer. The officer’s bodycam was discovered at the scene, according to GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom, but it’s unclear how it happened to come off.
Lyoya’s family denies these allegations, claiming that Lyoya’s car broke down on the street. When a GRPD officer arrived, he had got out of the car to investigate the issue with the vehicle.
His family claims that he and the officer fought, and that the officer then grabbed him and threw him to the ground. According to the family, the officer then shot Lyoya in the back of the head.
Full video: Grand Rapids police release bodycam, dashcam footage of officer killing Patrick Lyoya
Although the officer at the core of the investigation has not been named, the GRPD has stated that he joined the department in 2015. Until the investigation is completed, the officer has already been placed on administrative leave.
GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom said last week at a press conference that the officer would be interviewed 72 hours after the incident, as is standard procedure.
Patrick Lyoya, a Congolese refugee, was 26 years old. Fearing violence, his family fled to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Lyoya is the firstborn son of his parents, and he has five younger siblings. In addition, he was the father of two daughters.
He was described by friends as a hard worker and a soccer fanatic.
