Grand Rapids faces protests after release of officer shooting footage

Grand Rapids, Mich., is facing protests after the Wednesday release of footage of an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of Patrick Lyoya.

The Grand Rapids Police Department is surrounded by a fence and concrete barricades and businesses in the city put up plywood before the video was released.

The crowd has been marching throughout the rain, calling for justice for Lyoya and circling the police department, WOODTV reported.

Antifa and others are calling for violence in the protests, journalist Andy Ngo observed. 

Lyoya, a 26-year-old black man, was pulled over for a traffic stop last week for driving a vehicle with a license plate not registered to it.

Video shows Lyoya tried to run away before attempting to take the officer's Taser. 

Lyoya can be seen on the ground below the officer, who yelled at him to "drop the Taser!" before shooting Lyoya in the back of the head.

Reporter Matt Witkos said people were throwing objects at the department during the protest Wednesday evening.

The incident has been condemned by several officials including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and former Michigan Rep. Justin Amash.