An Oklahoma City man whose violent arrest sparked outrage and reform efforts within the city’s police department has died nearly a year after the incident.
Family members confirmed the death of 72-year-old Lich Vu, who was slammed to the ground by an Oklahoma City police officer during a 2024 traffic stop that left him hospitalized with a brain bleed and multiple fractures. Vu spent months in recovery while also battling bone cancer.
Related: OCPD Investigates Incident Involving 71-Year-Old Man & Officer Placed On Administrative Leave
Background on the 2024 incident
The confrontation happened in October 2024 when body-camera footage showed Officer Joseph Gibson throwing Vu onto the pavement after Vu lightly struck the officer’s chest with the back of his hand during an argument ov