After a Grand Rapids police officer scuffled with a driver stopped for a traffic violation–with the two struggling over a stun gun–the police officer shot the man in the back of the head as he laid face down on the ground, a newly released video shows, the Associated Press reports.
Patrick Lyoya, a 26 year old native of the Congo, was killed during the April 4th encounter, which started when an unnamed officer pulled him over because the license plate on the vehicle did not match the make of the car. Lyoya dashed from the car after speaking briefly with the officer.
After the officer was able to catch Lyoya, a struggle ensued. The officer got control of the Taser; he fired it twice, missing Lyoya, who ended up lying face down on the ground, with the officer kneeling on Lyoya’s back and controlling him.
The city has not release the portion of the body cam footage in the moments before and during the shooting, nor have they given an account by the officer about why he drew his weapon.
Businesses in Grand Rapids shut down early Wednesday after the video was released, anticipating unrest. Around 100 protesters marched Tuesday night calling for more transparency in the case.