Patrick Lyoya: videos show man shot in head by Michigan officer

Congolese refugee fatally wounded in 'routine' traffic stop

A black man lying face-down on the ground was fatally shot in the back of the head by a Michigan police officer, after a traffic stop, brief foot chase and struggle over a stun gun, videos of the April 4 encounter appear to show.

Patrick Lyoya was killed outside a house in Grand Rapids.

Citing a need for transparency, the city’s new police chief, Eric Winstrom, on Wednesday released four videos, including critical footage of the shooting recorded by a passenger in Lyoya’s car on that rainy morning.

“I view it as a tragedy. It was a progression of sadness for me,” said Mr Winstrom.

Grand Rapids, population 200,000, is about 240 kilometres north-west of Detroit.

Footage shows Lyoya running from the officer who stopped him for driving with a licence plate that didn’t belong to the vehicle. They struggled in front of several homes while Lyoya’s passenger got out and watched.

The white officer repeatedly ordered Lyoya to “let go” of his Taser, at one point demanding: “Drop the Taser!”

Mr Winstrom said the fight over the Taser lasted about 90 seconds. In the final moments, the officer was on top of Lyoya, kneeling on his back at times to subdue him.

“From my view of the video, Taser was deployed twice. Taser did not make contact,” Mr Winstrom told reporters. “And Mr Lyoya was shot in the head."

The traffic stop was tense from the start. Video shows Lyoya, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, getting out of the car before the officer approached. He ordered Lyoya to get back in the vehicle, but he refused.

The officer asked him if he spoke English and demanded his driver’s licence. The foot chase began soon after, video shows.

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  A TV display shows video evidence of a Grand Rapids police officer struggling with and shooting Patrick Lyoya at Grand Rapids City Hall on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. Lyoya, 26, was shot and killed about 8:10 a. m. , on April 4, after what police said was a traffic stop. (Grand Rapids Police Department)

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  Footage of the April 4 shooting was released at a press conference on Wednesday. USA Today Network / Reuters

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  Patrick Lyoya stands near a car in Grand Rapids, a city in Michigan. Reuters

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  A police officer grabs Lyoya’s shirt on a suburban front lawn. Reuters

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  Patrick Lyoya blocks a Taser weapon held by a Grand Rapids Police officer, shortly before the shooting. Reuters

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  This still from a video released by the police on April 14, 2022, shows footage moments before the shooting. Photo: Grand Rapids Police Department via AFP

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  Protesters surround the Grand Rapids Police Department in response to the killing. Reuters

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  Protesters march through Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Wednesday. AP

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  The demonstration was held in response to a video of the shooting being made public. AP

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  Protesters gather outside Grand Rapids Police headquarters after the footage was released. Kalamazoo Gazette via AP

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  A makeshift memorial for Patrick Lyoya is set up in the city. Kalamazoo Gazette via AP

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  Demonstrators gather outside Grand Rapids Police headquarters after police released video of the shooting. Kalamazoo Gazette via AP

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  Protesters gather near Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids. Kalamazoo Gazette via AP

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  The white officer seen shooting Patrick Lyoya on video has been placed on paid administrative leave. Getty

Mr Winstrom didn’t identify the officer, a seven-year veteran who is on paid leave during the investigation.

“Me being from Chicago for the last 20 years, I’ve handled many police shootings myself, so I do have a lot of experience in this,” the chief said. “I was hoping to never have to utilise that experience here.”

Video footage was collected from Lyoya’s passenger, the officer’s body camera, the officer’s patrol car and a doorbell camera. Prosecutor Chris Becker, who will decide whether any charges are warranted, objected to the release but said Mr Winstrom could act on his own.

Mr Becker said the public shouldn’t expect a quick decision.

The officer’s body camera was turned off before the shooting, which happens when a button is pushed for three seconds, Mr Winstrom said. He said it appears it was deactivated unintentionally due to body pressure during the struggle, but he would not discuss any officer statements about it.

Several hundred protesters gathered following the release of the videos, with some shouting from behind barricades. The group demanded that officials make public the name of the officer in the shooting. The demonstration remained nonviolent.

Lyoya had two young daughters and five siblings, said Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who spoke to his family.

“He arrived in the United States as a refugee with his family fleeing violence. He had his whole life ahead of him,” Ms Whitmer said.

Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, speaking on behalf of Lyoya’s family, on Wednesday called for the officer to be fired and prosecuted.

“The video clearly shows that this was an unnecessary, excessive, and fatal use of force against an unarmed black man who was confused by the encounter and terrified for his life,” Mr Crump said.

“It should be noted that Patrick never used violence against this officer even though the officer used violence against him in several instances for what was a misdemeanour traffic stop,” he added.

As in many US cities, Grand Rapids police have been occasionally criticised over the use of force, particularly against black people, who make up 18 per cent of the population.