Judge Allows Civil Trial in the Police Murder of Patrick Lyoya: White Grand Rapids Cop Shot Black Man in the Back of the Head b/c He was Too Weak to Subdue Him after He Fled Unlawful Traffic Stop
/A jury will decide whether a white Grand rapids police officer violated the civil rights of a Black man when he shot him in the back of the head, a judge said Thursday, clearing the path for a trial or settlement years after the fatal encounter was recorded on video.
A second-degree murder charge against Christopher Schurr was dropped after a jury in Kent County couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict in 2025. But he still faces a civil lawsuit by Patrick Lyoya’s family under different legal standards.
U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney suggested it wasn’t difficult to keep the case on track. At this stage, he said he had to view the evidence in a light most favorable to the family.
“The record suggests that (Schurr) shot a man who posed no threat of violence, held no weapon, and who was under Defendant’s physical control,” Maloney said. “That violates the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable seizures.”
Patrick Lyoya, a Black man, was killed at the end of a traffic stop in Grand Rapids. Initially, the circumstances that led to the traffic stop weren’t clear, but police said after further inspection the vehicle had a license plate not registered to the vehicle. Unregistered vehicle is a minor traffic misdemeanor. After stepping out of his car, videos released by the police show, Mr. Lyoya appears confused as the officer tells him to get back in the vehicle. Officer Schurr asks him whether he speaks English. Mr. Lyoya responds that he does speak English and asks, “What did I do wrong?” After a brief exchange about whether Mr. Lyoya has a driver’s license, Officer Schurr grabs Mr. Lyoya, who pulls away and starts to run, the footage shows.
Mr. Lyloa had not committed any felony (unregistered vehicle is a minor traffic misdemeanor) and the white cop was not authorized to use deadly force to apprehend him as a fleeing felon.
The officer tackles Mr. Lyoya in a nearby lawn, yelling “Stop!” as Mr. Lyoya appears to try to regain his footing.
Midway through the struggle, the officer’s body camera stops filming. Chief Eric Winstrom of the Grand Rapids police said pressure was applied to the camera to turn it off during the struggle. It was not clear who applied that pressure or whether it was intentional. But Cops lie about everything - statements about any malfunction from the person accused of murder are probably self-serving until proven at trial.
Other cameras — from the officer’s vehicle, a nearby doorbell security system and a bystander’s cellphone — capture different portions of the encounter. Shortly before the fatal shot is fired, Officer Schurr yells, “Let go of the Taser!” Mr. Lyoya is facing the ground and pushing up, with the officer on top of him, in the moments just before the shooting. Again, said statement from a cop-actor performing for the camera is self-serving - the video speaks for itself. [MORE]
