Latest news with #ex-GrandRapids
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Kent County Prosecutor declines to retry former Grand Rapids police officer in motorist's death
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announcing that he will not seek a retrial of Christopher Schurr, a former Grand Rapids Police officer, in the death of Patrick Lyoya. May 22, 2025 | Screenshot from Kent County's YouTube Channel GRAND RAPIDS — An ex-Grand Rapids police officer who fatally shot a Black motorist following a 2022 traffic stop will not face a retrial after a first proceeding ended in a mistrial earlier this month. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced Thursday that he didn't think another trial for Christopher Schurr, 34, would produce a new outcome. 'I did not arrive at (the decision) lightly,' Becker said. 'Basically, what it boils down to is I don't think we reach a different verdict if I do do a retrial in this case.' Schurr was tried for second-degree murder for the shooting death of 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya, a Congolese immigrant. Over the course of the six-day trial, the jury heard testimony from 22 witnesses, including several experts who gave conflicting testimony on whether Schurr's decision to use deadly force was justified. The trial ended May 8 with jurors unable to reach a verdict after deliberating for nearly four days on whether to convict Schurr of second-degree murder, manslaughter or to acquit him. 'This is an extremely difficult decision,' Becker said. 'I looked at everything: I looked at our case. I looked at the defense case. I looked at the arguments that were made. I looked at the jury selection process, because I think that's one of the biggest things that, going into this, we were thinking about getting a good jury. I even went over and watched more of the trial.' Becker said he spoke to jurors after the trial and said they were evenly split with four wanting to convict, four wanting to acquit and four undecided. As deliberations continued, the vote evolved to 10-2 in favor of acquittal, although Schurr's attorney, Matt Borgula, has said the it was 11-1 in favor of acquittal after his own discussions with jurors. 'I thought we presented a good case. I presented everything I wanted. All the facts were out there that I had. It's not like I can change anything,' Becker said. Schurr pulled Lyoya over on April 4, 2022, for having a license plate that didn't match the car he was driving. When Lyoya couldn't produce a driver's license, Schurr attempted to place him under arrest, but the motorist ran. Schurr tackled Lyoya to the ground and attempted to use his Taser, but was too close and the motorist deflected the probes. The two then wrestled briefly over the device when the officer pulled out his handgun and fatally shot Lyoya in the back of the head. Schurr was fired from the Grand Rapids Police Department after he was charged in the shooting in June 2022. Becker said Thursday he spoke with Lyoya's father, Peter Lyoya, after reaching the decision this week. 'Obviously, he's very disappointed in that decision. I know there are many members of the community that are disappointed in the decision.' Attorney Ven Johnson, who represents the Lyoya family, issued a statement shortly after Becker's announcement Thursday. 'The Lyoya family has not only lost Patrick, but now the hope that former officer Christopher Schurr will ever be held criminally accountable for taking Patrick's life,' the statement read. 'With today's decision, what was once a pause in justice has now become a permanent reality. This is not a verdict nor the outcome the Lyoya family sought.' In December 2022, Lyoya's family filed a $100 million civil lawsuit in federal court against the city of Grand Rapids and Schurr. In August 2023, a judge dismissed the case against the city, but allowed the litigation to proceed against Schurr. 'We will continue to stand with the Lyoya family in their pursuit of truth, accountability and justice for Patrick, and are awaiting our day in civil court,' Johnson said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NAACP to host ‘listening session' for GR community
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Community members will be able to voice their opinions and frustrations about Christopher Schurr's mistral at a NAACP listening session Wednesday evening. The NAACP, working with local nonprofits, will hold the listening session from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation on Madison Avenue. for the shooting and killing of Patrick Lyoya after a traffic stop in 2022. The ex-Grand Rapids police officer faced up to life in prison if convicted of second degree murder. His defense team argued that Schurr shot Lyoya out of self defense, while prosecutors argued that the shooting was not justified. What comes next? Legal expert weighs in on Schurr mistrial The NAACP says the session is part of their continued demand for accountability and structural change. It will offer a chance for community members to speak, hear legal context and discussion aimed at building collective demands, the organization said. The NAACP says once the session is complete, they will announce a formal public demand. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Community members condemn Grand Rapids Police at city commission meeting
Micah Colby, 21, addresses the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Approximately 50 residents gathered at a Grand Rapids City Commission meeting Tuesday where some voiced calls for justice for Patrick Lyoya during public comments. The meeting followed last Thursday's mistrial of Christopher Schurr, the white ex-Grand Rapids police officer who fatally shot Lyoya, a Black motorist, following a 2022 traffic stop. Schurr pulled Lyoya, a Congolese immigrant, over on April 4, 2022 for having a license plate that didn't match the car he was driving. When Lyoya couldn't produce a driver's license, Schurr attempted to place him under arrest, at which point Lyoya attempted to flee. A struggle ensued, which ended when the officer pulled out his handgun and fatally shot Lyoya in the back of the head. The mistrial followed nearly a week of deliberations. A round of intense comments from more than a dozen residents wanting justice for Lyoya and changes within the police department came after the city's budget agenda. 'In our city, the police are out of control. As of right now, the police have no accountability and unfortunately, you cannot have a militarized police force that thinks that they are allowed to use force in that way,' said Micah Colby, 21. 'Under the Trump administration, the funding and militarization of the police is dangerous,' Colby highlighted. As the comments in support of Lyola continued, some Schurr supporters in the back of the room scoffed at the speeches, generating some tension in the meeting. Jeff Osborne, a man wearing a Trump polo shirt with the phrase 'fight' emphasized his support for the police during his public commentary. 'The cop protected us from the mob during the protests. I just want to thank the boys in blue,' said Osborne. As the meeting progressed, community members criticized the police's actions and the lack of justice. 'It's always the same thing. The thin blue line is a gang. It's all across the country. I've watched as they've celebrated behind barriers, under those thin blue line flags after they've killed black and brown bodies,' said Kenneth Cortez, 37. Towards the end of the meeting, when the commissioners were giving their final comments, they were disrupted by Lyoya supporters without escalating the situation. 'It is great comfort to me to have people up here who have a heart for justice and for trying to serve this community. It is very hard to not pretend we are perfect,' said Mayor David LaGrand before being interrupted by some residents when he was referring to Schurr. 'He [Shurr] murdered somebody,' was heard from the public. The meeting ended after LaGrand's comments without any incident. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker has yet to decide whether he will seek a retrial of Schurr. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz The Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees at the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Micah Colby, 21, addresses the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Micah Colby, 21, addresses the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees at the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees at the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protesters march in Grand Rapids after mistrial declared in murder trial of former officer
GRAND RAPIDS — Protesters in downtown Grand Rapids had a message for Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker May 8: seek a second trial of Christopher Schurr, the former police officer charged with murder over the 2022 killing of Patrick Lyoya. Hours earlier, a jury had deadlocked over a second-degree murder charge against Schurr, causing a judge to declare a mistrial in Kent County Circuit Court. Schurr fatally shot Lyoya, a Congolese immigrant, in the back of the head after tackling him after Lyoya tried to flee a traffic stop on April 4, 2022. The mistrial declaration prompted demonstrations, where activists led marches and made speeches calling on Becker to continue seeking accountability for the shooting. Becker told reporters at a press conference that he would take time to consider whether to retry the case. Cristian Bartolo, a Grand Rapids resident who was among those gathered outside the 17th Circuit Court, said Becker had a duty to seek a second trial against Schurr. "It's his job to hold government officials accountable, whether it's a corrupt mayor or a police officer," Bartolo told the Detroit Free Press. "It's his job to uphold the laws." A crowd of around a hundred people participated in demonstrations Thursday evening, beginning with chants and speeches outside the courthouse and later a march through parts of downtown Grand Rapids. Chants of "justice for Patrick," "no justice, no peace," and "say his name" were shouted by protesters. The crowd included people of varying ages, from children to seniors, and backgrounds. Speakers were Black, but white people marched by their sides. The protest was similar to those that took place three years ago, after the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) released footage of Schurr shooting Lyoya to the public, although the previous protests were much larger in size. More: Mistrial for ex-Grand Rapids officer Christopher Schurr, who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya Some Michigan State Police troopers on bikes advised demonstrators to march on the sidewalk when they began walking down Fulton Street, a main road in Grand Rapids. Those leading Thursday's demonstrations said it was important to continue pressuring Becker. "I'm not going to lie, I don't have a lot of faith in the system," said Aly Bates, one of the demonstration's leaders. She later added, "we cannot allow the city to forget what happened." Jurors deliberated for roughly 20 hours before informing 17th Circuit Judge Christina Mims they were unable to reach a verdict. Mims declared a mistrial in the case, where jurors heard about five-and-a-half days of arguments and testimony. Schurr's lead defense attorney, Matt Borgula, told reporters after the mistrial declaration he did not believe the case should go to court again. Schurr's attorneys had argued the former officer was acting in self defense after Lyoya attempted to grab Schurr's Taser during the physical struggle. Attorneys for the Lyoya family had urged community members to show support during the trial and stressed they wanted demonstrations to remain peaceful. Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack, who could be seen seated next to the Lyoya family during the trial, said community members had urged city officials in Grand Rapids to enact new policing standards in the years leading up to Lyoya's killing. In 2022, after the shooting, many protesting in Grand Rapids said Lyoya's death reopened wounds formed after years of mistrust between the community and police. More: Christopher Schurr testifies in trial over Lyoya shooting, says he feared for his life Womack told demonstrators to continue pressuring elected officials. "It's up to us, and we have got to make them see," Womack said. Becker said a decision on retrying the case is likely to come in a matter of weeks. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Protesters call for retrial after deadlock in Christopher Schurr trial
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Jury says it is deadlocked in trial of former Grand Rapids police officer
Former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr seen on a courthouse monitor, as he stands trial on second-degree murder charges in the death of Patrick Lyoya. May, 2, 2025 | Sarah Leach GRAND RAPIDS – Shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday, the jury in the second-degree murder trial of a white ex-Grand Rapids police officer who fatally shot a Black motorist following a 2022 traffic stop, notified 17th Circuit Court Judge Christina Mims that they were unable to reach a verdict after deliberating for about 10 hours since Monday afternoon. Mims provided jurors with additional instructions and told them to continue deliberations. 'Remember, it is your duty to consult with your fellow jurors and try to reach agreement, if you can do so without violating your own judgment,' she said. 'Naturally, there will be differences of opinion. You should each not only express your opinion, but also give the facts and the reasons on which you base it by reasoning the matter out, jurors can often reach agreement.' When a jury is deadlocked, or unable to reach a verdict, the judge will typically declare a mistrial. That would return the case to its pre-trial state, allowing the prosecution to decide whether to retry the case or drop the charges. Jury deliberations entered a second day Tuesday in Kent County's 17th Circuit Court in the trial of Christopher Schurr, now 34, who could face up to life in prison if convicted for the shooting death of 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya. Schurr pulled Lyoya, a Congolese immigrant, over for having a license plate that didn't match the car he was driving on April 4, 2022. When Lyoya couldn't produce a driver's license, Schurr attempted to place him under arrest. The motorist then ran and Schurr tackled him to the ground. Schurr then attempted to tase Lyoya, but was too close and the motorist deflected the probes. The two then wrestled briefly over the Taser when the officer pulled out his handgun and fatally shot Lyoya in the back of the head. Prosecutors have argued that Schurr made several questionable decisions during the incident, including opting to chase Lyoya, which put his back to the pulled-over vehicle that still had an unidentified passenger in the front seat. The passenger, Aime Tuyishme, testified early last week that he got out of Lyoya's car after the officer tackle his friend; he then pulled out his cellphone to record the incident, which became a key piece of evidence during the trial. Prosecution experts also criticized Schurr's decision to deploy the Taser within an arm's length of Lyoya — the close proximity allowed the motorist to prevent proper deployment and created a struggle over the device. They also said the shooting was unjustified, as Lyoya was face down on the ground with Schurr atop him when the shooting took place. 'Patrick did some dumb, bad things, but the defendant did some things, too. There are critical mistakes that occurred — that a reasonable officer wouldn't make these decisions,' Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said in his closing argument Monday. Schurr's defense team has maintained that the officer genuinely feared for his life when Lyoya was able to gain possession of the Taser. Although he was lying on the ground facing away, Schurr, who took the stand Friday, said Lyoya was pushing himself back up and was attempting to turn around, prompting Schurr to use deadly force. 'At some point, I thought he was going to turn on me and use it on me,' Schurr said. 'If I had waited for him to point (the Taser) at me, it would be too late. I thought I was gonna die.' Defense experts testified during the six-day trial that Schurr was in a high-stress situation that quickly physically depleted him and affected his decision-making abilities. GRPD officers who trained Schurr while he was with the department said any officer in a similar situation would have made the same decision. 'I think a reasonable officer would perform the same way in the same situation,' GRPD Captain David Siver testified Wednesday. Schurr was fired from the Grand Rapids Police Department after he was charged in the shooting in June 2022. In December 2022, Lyoya's family filed a $100 million civil lawsuit in federal court against the city of Grand Rapids and Schurr. In August 2023, a judge dismissed the case against the city, but allowed the litigation to proceed against Schurr. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
