Video of in fatal police shooting of Patrick Leya, black man who was pulled out over for traffic stop, was released on Wednesday. Leya, 26, was shot dead on April 4 police officer in Grand Rapids, Michigan after struggle in that two men seemed to fight over officer stun gun.
Videos released by the Grand Rapids Police Department included body worn out camera dvr from officer carsurveillance video from house through street and mobile phone video taken by a passenger in in car.
Moments just before the shot is difficult to distinguish, since body worn out camera was deactivated, surveillance video from a significant distance and the cell phone is often pointed at the ground instead of officer and Leia. However, two men it turned out struggling over officer’s taser at a certain points in video.
Grand Rapids Police Department
In the video, the officer who White, pulling Leia over for driving with incompatible plates. Leya receives out of his car and an officer who has not been identified, immediately tells him to stay in in car. Lei remains outside of in car and closes the door. The officer asks if Leia speaks English and for his license is somewhat times. Leya tells him that the license in in car. The officer then orders Leia to retrieve it.
Leia then appears to ask the passenger to get a driver’s license, but the passenger does not seem to do so. know where is it. How Leia tries walk passenger side of in car, the officer tells him to stop and grabs him. After a short struggle, Leya manages to free herself and kicks chase comes. The officer catches Leia on neighboring lawn and two struggle on Earth for en extended period of the time when the officer repeatedly tells Leia to stop. The officer seems to subdue Leia briefly and they stand up. upHowever struggle then continues.
At some point, although it is not clear just when due to closure proximity of in struggle and poor camera surveillance video quality through streetofficer takes out his taser. He can be heard firing This twice but, according to Cedar Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom, the taser missed both of Leia. times. These two continue struggle and at certain moments it seems that both men have your hands on weapon. Two men Fall to the ground again as the officer repeatedly tells Leah to let go of Taser. AT one The passenger is heard saying that Leya does not touch the stun gun.
With Leya face down on land, the officer manages to get on upper of his. Officer still telling Leia to let go of stun gun, then takes out his gun and shoot Leah in in head.
At the press conference Wednesday afternoon to go over video, Winstrom said that body camera was deactivated because the button that controls the record function has been pressed down for more than three seconds during struggle. Winstrom said he estimated based on on video that two men fought over stun gun for approximately 90 seconds.
the officer currently on paid leave while the Michigan State Police investigate the shooting. Winstrom said the officer’s identity would not be established unless he was charged. with a crime.
During the press conference, Winstrom repeatedly refused to make any definitive statements about whether he thought the shooting was justified or not. of officer’s actions may have disrupted control policy. He said these definitions would made state police investigation.
“I view It’s like a tragedy,” he said.
Attorney Ben Crump who represents leu family said in statement after the press conference that “the video is clearly shows that it was unnecessary, excessive and fatal use of force against unarmed black man who was confused by the meeting and frightened for his life.”
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