“There’s no query what killed this younger man. … It was a robust bullet,” Dr. Werner Spitz, a 95-year-old forensic pathologist and former medical expert who carried out the post-mortem, stated throughout a press briefing on Tuesday.
The post-mortem confirms what was depicted within the video footage launched final week. In it, an unidentified Michigan police officer is seen mendacity on Lyoya’s again earlier than taking pictures him. “The one damage on this physique was a typical bullet wound of entrance,” Spitz stated.
In accordance with CNN, the taking pictures was described by a consultant of the household who noticed it as “execution-style.” Within the roughly 20-minute lengthy video, Lyoya could be seen combating the officer who at one level tells him “cease resisting” as physique digicam footage exhibits him knee Lyoya.
Requests for the video adopted protests throughout the state demanding justice and transparency for what occurred to Lyoya. Lyoya, who was unarmed, was killed after a visitors cease in western Michigan on April 4 after being pulled over for having an unregistered license plate.
“This impartial post-mortem report confirms what all of us witnessed within the horrifying video footage: Unarmed Patrick Lyoya was aware till the bullet entered his head, immediately ending what might have been an extended and fruitful life,” lawyer for the household Ben Crump stated, in keeping with the Associated Press.
“My coronary heart is damaged to see an officer being on high of my son and to shoot him behind his head, my coronary heart is admittedly damaged,” Peter Lyoya, Patrick’s father, stated throughout a press convention final week, in keeping with Reuters. “I am asking for justice for Patrick.”
Whereas Crump and the household are demanding “that the officer who killed Patrick not solely be terminated for his use of extreme and deadly power, however be arrested and prosecuted for the violent killing of Patrick Lyoya,” police officers have stated the title of the officer who shot and killed Lyoya will solely be launched if the officer is charged. As investigations proceed, findings shall be given to the Kent County prosecutor for consideration of any expenses.
In accordance with the AP, Lyoya’s funeral is deliberate for Friday at Renaissance Church of God in Christ in Grand Rapids. Prices are anticipated to be coated by Rev. Al Sharpton’s Nationwide Motion Community.
