On Wednesday evening, dozens of protesters took to the streets in the American city of Grand Rapids to protest the police shooting that killed a 26-year-old African-American man. They carried banners with the anti-racism slogan “Black Lives Matter” and some shouted “No justice, no peace”.
A new deadly police operation against a young black man has sparked outrage in the United States. As reported, on April 4, a white police officer shot 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya in the back of the head during an altercation on the ground. This was preceded by a traffic control that got out of hand.
Video footage shows murder
Published video footage shows the police officer stopping Lyoya’s car in the morning hours and asking for a driver’s license. The reason: The license plate does not match the car. Lyoya, a refugee from Congo, first asked the passenger to give him his driver’s license. Then he called away. This was followed by an argument with the police officer, both wrestling with the officer’s electric shock pistol, which, according to video recordings, had meanwhile been lying on the 26-year-old’s back. After the police officer unsuccessfully asked Lyoya to put down the electric baton, he drew his service weapon and fired.
Police Chief: “Tragedy”
The incident is currently under investigation and the police officer has been suspended. Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom called it a “tragedy.” “The loss of a life is sad under any circumstances and I know it will have an impact on our city.” “Lyoya’s family came to our country in search of the American dream, but instead they are experiencing a traumatic American nightmare,” civil rights attorney representing the family, Ben Crump, wrote on Twitter.
Fatal police operations are common in the United States. In April last year, a white police officer shot and killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright. The officer actually wanted to get out her taser when a traffic stop got out of hand, but fired her service pistol. She was sentenced in February to two years in prison for manslaughter, with a third on probation.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
