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Michigan

Michigan officer who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya should be prosecuted, attorney Ben Crump says

Michigan shooting was a 'deadly execution,' Crump said

Paul Best By Paul Best Fox News
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Grand Rapids police release body camera footage that shows lead-up to officer fatally shooting Patrick Lyoya Video

Grand Rapids police release body camera footage that shows lead-up to officer fatally shooting Patrick Lyoya

The Grand Rapids Police Department released body camera footage showing what led to an officer shooting and killing 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya on April 4.

High-profile civil rights attorney Ben Crump called for the officer who shot and killed 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya last week to be terminated and prosecuted at a press conference alongside Lyoya's family on Thursday. 

It came one day after the Grand Rapids Police Department released several videos of the encounter, which show the officer and Lyoya struggling over a taser before the fatal shooting. 

Crump called the shooting a "deadly execution" on Thursday. 

"We demand that the officer who killed Patrick not only be terminated for his use of excessive and fatal force but be arrested and prosecuted for the violent killing," Crump said. "Equal justice requires it." 

Ben Crump appeared alongside Patrick Lyoya's family on Thursday. 

Ben Crump appeared alongside Patrick Lyoya's family on Thursday.  (Fox 2 Detroit)

Lyoya, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was pulled over by the officer on the morning of April 3 because his vehicle's tags didn't belong to the car he was driving. 

MICHIGAN POLICE RELEASE FOOTAGE OF OFFICER SHOOTING AND KILLING PATRICK LYOYA

The 26-year-old got out of the car before the officer could reach him and started to run after a brief interaction. 

The officer tackled Lyoya and the two struggled over the officer's taser, with the officer commanding Lyoya multiple times to take his hand off of it. 

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    Lyoya immediately got out of his vehicle when he was pulled over by the officer.  (Grand Rapids Police Department)

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    Lyoya took off on foot when the officer tried to put his hands behind his back.  (Grand Rapids Police Department)

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    The officer and Lyoya engaged in a struggle over the officer's taser for about two minutes.  (Grand Rapids Police Department)

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    After the struggle, bystander video appears to show the officer pulling his handgun and fatally shooting Lyoya.  (Grand Rapids Police Department)

After about two minutes, video appears to show the officer drawing his handgun and shooting Lyoya once in the back of the head, killing him. 

Lyoya's father, Peter, said that he moved his family, including Patrick and five other children, to Michigan in 2014 to escape violence in their native Congo. 

"My life was Patrick, my son. I was thinking that Patrick will take my place, and to see that my son has been killed like an animal by a police officer, to see this video they show, I see that I have no life, I see my heart being broken," Peter said through a translator. 

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    Lyoya's father, Peter, called for justice for his son.  (Fox 2 Detroit)

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    Lyoya's mother also spoke at the press conference on Thursday.  (Fox 2 Detroit)

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker is reviewing evidence and will decide whether to bring charges against the officer, a 7-year veteran who has been placed on paid leave while the investigation takes place. 

"I once again ask the community for patience in this matter," Becker said Wednesday after the footage was released. "This is an extremely critical incident, and one that everyone involved in the investigation is taking very seriously."

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The officer's identity won't be released unless he is charged with a crime. 

Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest.