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Grand Rapids Police Department Officer Christopher Schurr was charged with one count of second-degree murder in the death of a 26-year-old Black man, Patrick Lyoya.
On April 4th, Lyoya was shot to death by Schurr while trying to arrest him after a traffic stop. Lyoya was pulled over by Schurr for an allegedly unregistered license plate.
Resisting Schurr's attempt to arrest, Lyoya got out of the car and ran a short distance from Schurr before a struggle ensued. While the two were on the ground as Schurr wrestled for control of Lyoya.
Videos of the shooting show Lyoya, who is Black, face down on the ground when he was shot in the back of the head by Schurr, who is White. Just prior to the shooting Lyoya can be seen on video struggling with Schurr over the officer's stun gun. The officer’s body camera was turned off during the struggle; however, surveillance footage from nearby homes and a witness who was in the vehicle with Lyoya and captured video, aided the investigation.
Schurr has turned himself in to the Michigan State Police and is expected to be arraigned Friday, Becker said.
Second-degree murder is a felony offence punishable by up to life in prison with the possibility of parole.