GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The family of Patrick Lyoya, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, and Detroit-based attorney Ven Johnson held a press conference Thursday addressing Lyoya's death.
At the conference, Crump and Johnson called for justice for Lyoya and condemned the actions of the Grand Rapids Police officer who shot and killed him.
Authorities have not yet publicly identified the officer, citing an ongoing Michigan State Police investigation.
The shooting happened Monday, April 4 just after 8 a.m. near the intersection of Griggs Street and Nelson Avenue SE in Grand Rapids.
Authorities said a Grand Rapids Police officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with a faulty license plate. Lyoya, who was driving the vehicle, fled from police on foot.
After a physical struggle with the officer, Lyoya was shot and killed.
During the struggle, Lyoya and the officer are seen on various sources of footage fighting over the officer's taser. It appears as though Patrick grabs the taser, but his family's attorneys say Patrick was trying to move the taser out of the way.
The taser was no longer effective after being deployed twice, the attorneys said.
Attorney Ven Johnson argued that lethal force was not warranted, saying the officer could not have been in immediate fear of his life while kneeling on Lyoya who didn't have a weapon.
“We believe this is crystal clear,” he said. “There is no reasonable person who could be in immediate fear of their life, hence this officer is guilty.”
Crump added that police reform needs to occur on the federal level.
Lyoya’s parents and brother also spoke during the conference, sharing their grief and calling for the release of the officer’s name.
“At the time when I saw this video, my heart was really, deeply broken. Right now, I’m seeing that I have no life, my life has come to an end. My life was Patrick, my son,” said Patrick’s father, Peter Lyoya. “I’m asking for justice.”
The Michigan State Police are investigating the shooting. After their investigation is complete, their findings will be given to the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office.
Crump said that if charges are not issued against the officer, he and Johnson will appeal with Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office and federal authorities.
Watch the full conference below:
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