Photo: Ryan Garza ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
GRAND RAPIDS, May 8, 2025 ~ A mistrial was declared Thursday morning in the murder trial of a Grand Rapids police officer who killed a Congolese refugee.
Christopher Schurr, 34, faced one count of second-degree murder over the killing of Patrick Lyoya, 26, in 2022 during a traffic stop, when Schurr shot him in the back of the head after Lyoya tried to flee the scene and the officer slammed him face-down on the ground. The mistrial was declared after days of deliberation in the 17th Circuit Court, where the jury failed to reach a verdict.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker says he will NOT be making a decision on the future of the Christopher Schurr case until a later date @wzzm13
He says political pressure didn’t push him to charge Schurr and there are officer involved shootings he doesn’t decide to press… pic.twitter.com/FPLuYVWkx7
— Cali Lichter (@CaliLichter) May 8, 2025
Retry Killer Cop Christopher Schurr! Black Lives Matter! Justice for Patrick Lyoya! pic.twitter.com/eUycr5louB
— Detroit Will Breathe (@DETWILLBREATHE) May 8, 2025
(CONTINUED) While Schurr claims he was acting in self-defense when Lyoya appeared to be reaching for his taser, the protection argued that the officer used excessive force that killed him. This is the latest case regarding the killing a of an unarmed Black person resulting in no legal punishment for the officer, with three Memphis police officers found not guilty Wednesday in the beathing death of Tyre Nichols.
There are indications the a retrial will be pursued by the family. “We’re not going to be tired until when we get the justice for Patrick,” said Peter Lyoya, father of Patrick Lyoya, during a press conference.
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