Grand Rapids Police Officer Charged With Second-Degree Murder In Killing Of Patrick Lyoya

Topline

Grand Rapids Police officer Christopher Schurr was charged Thursday with second-degree murder in the death of Patrick Lyoya, who Schurr fatally shot in the back of the head during a traffic stop in April, leading to days of protests in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A TV display shows video evidence of Patrick Lyoya during a traffic stop at Grand Rapids City Hall … [+] on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. (Grand Rapids Police Department)

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Key Facts

Kent County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Becker charged Schurr with one count of second-degree murder.

Becker said during a press conference Schurr had turned himself in and was scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.

Schurr pulled Lyoya over on April 4 because the license plate on the vehicle Lyoya was driving was not registered to the vehicle, according to video footage released by the Grand Rapids Police Department.

Lyoya got out of the car as Schurr approached Lyoya’s vehicle, leading the officer to ask Lyoya several questions, including to see his license and if he spoke English, according to the video footage.

A short foot chase began after, with Lyoya running from the car and struggling over a Taser the officer attempted to deploy, before Schurr knelt on Lyoya’s back with his knee, and shot him in the head.

Schurr, who is white, has been on paid administrative leave since April 12, according to personnel documents obtained by multiple news outlets.

What To Watch For

If convicted of the felony second-degree murder charge, Schurr faces up to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Key Background

In the days following the shooting, Becker had asked police agencies to refrain from releasing evidence to maintain the “integrity of the investigation,” but Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom said during an April press conference he would release the footage of the incident because he wanted to be as transparent as possible—and despite the fact the footage would normally be released after the Michigan State Police finishes their investigation. Becker said last month he needed “additional expert guidance” before deciding whether to bring criminal charges against Schurr, noting he recognized “the investigation appears to be moving painstakingly slowly.”

Tangent

An autopsy set up by Lyoya’s family’s legal team, as well as the state’s official autopsy, found Lyoya died of a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. The state autopsy also found Lyoya’s blood-alcohol level was 0.29—more than three times the legal limit for driving—at the time of his death. Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney also representing Lyoya’s family, said in April the family believes the shooting was an “execution.”

Crucial Quote

“While the road to justice for Patrick and his family has just begun, this decision is a crucial step in the right direction,” Crump said in a statement after the charge was announced. “Officer Schurr must be held accountable for his decision to pursue an unarmed Patrick, ultimately shooting him in the back of the head and killing him – for nothing more than a traffic stop.”