GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Community members held a candlelight vigil Saturday evening to honor the life of Patrick Lyoya, show support for the family and press for change.
Friday marked exactly three years since Lyoya, 26, was killed in southeast Grand Rapids. Former officer Christopher Schurr shot and killed Lyoya after a traffic stop the morning of April 4, 2022 . Video released by police shows Lyoya running away from Schurr and the two struggling over Schurr’s Taser. Ultimately, Schurr, who was on top of Lyoya trying to hold him down, shot him in the back of the head.
Inside woodtv.com: Patrick Lyoya
On Saturday, community members gathered at Griggs Street SE and Nelson Avenue SE, where Lyoya died, to remember his life. Attendees held candles, and several people spoke.
“Patrick Lyoya is a human being who had dreams. He’s a human being that had children. He’s a human being that had brothers and sisters. He’s a human being that has parents,” organizer and Kent County Commissioner Robert S. Womack said. “He’s a human being that has aspirations, and all of that was took. All of that was took because of a bullet in the back of the head.”
Peter Lyoya, Patrick Lyoya’s father, spoke about the family’s suffering and thanked attendees for supporting the family.
“I say thanks to come today to this candlelight to remember Patrick’s life,” said Peter Lyoya, whose native language is Swahili…