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Black lives matter: Another day, another police shooting in US. Latest victim: 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya

Black lives matter: Another day, another police shooting in US. Latest victim: 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya

Patrick Lyoya

In yet another case of racial injustice in the United States, a 26-year-old black man was fatally shot by a white police officer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

Patrick Lyoya, father of two was stopped at a traffic light for a vehicle registration mismatch and following a scuffle was shot in the back of his head, which led to his demise. The fatal incident took place on the morning of April 4, 2022.

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As per a press release by the City of Grand Rapids while the circumstances that led to Lyoya being stopped are not clear, however, inspection since the shooting has cleared that his vehicle had a license plate that wasn’t registered to that particular vehicle.

Therelease goes on to say, “following a brief foot pursuit, a physical altercation between the officer and the driver took place that lasted for several minutes. During that altercation, the officer fired his weapon, striking the individual who died as a result of his injuries.”

The officerhas not been named and is yet to be charged and is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

Watch |Gravitas US Edition: Black Lives Matter Movement: A WION Ground Report

On Wednesday, the Grand Rapids Police Department released videos related to the fatal shooting. You can watch the video here; however, we advise caution, it contains distressing images and violence:

Following the release of thevideos, dozens of protestors gathered in the city protesting against the steady rise in violence by white police officers against black men in America.

The protestors carried "Black Lives Matter" placards and were heard chanting "no justice, no peace."

Black lives matter

In the United States, the ‘BlackLives Matters’ movement, gathered steam following a similar case of shooting of a black man by a white police officer. George Floyd an African-American man was shot while engaged in a scuffle with police over something as trivial as a 20-dollar counterfeit bill.

Of the 4 officers involved in Floyd's death, Derek Chauvin the officer who was shown in a bystander video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, is now serving a 22.5-year sentence for the crime.

As per a New York Times investigation, police officers have killed more than 400 unarmed motorists in America over the last five years. A database by the Washington Post reveals that although these shootings do involve white victims too, black Americans who only account for 13 per cent of the US population are still shot disproportionately. Already this year, more than 250 people have been fatally shot by on-duty officers nationwide.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Moohita Kaur Garg

Moohita Kaur Garg is a journalist and Senior Sub-Editor at WION News with five years of experience covering the volatile intersections of geopolitics and global security. She has e...Read More