GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Three years ago, Patrick Lyoya’s death at the hands of a police officer grabbed the nation’s attention during a time when tensions between law enforcement and the public were high.
The high-profile case began with a traffic stop in April 2022 in a neighborhood on Grand Rapids’ southeast side.
Lyoya, a 26-year-old Congolese immigrant, was pulled over by Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr because the plate didn’t match the vehicle.
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Lyoya fled on foot from the stop, but Schurr – who is white – caught up to him. The two struggled over the officer’s Taser.
Schurr, while on top, shot Lyoya, who was Black, in the back of the head. The altercation was captured, in-part, on bodycam and dashcam footage. A passenger in Lyoya’s vehicle recorded a portion of the struggle on his cell phone.
Lyoya’s death came nearly two years after George Floyd was murdered by a white Minnesota police officer. The encounter divided many in Grand Rapids and thrust the city into the national discussion about policing of minority communities.
In the days after Lyoya’s death, protestors marched side-by-side with Lyoya’s family throughout Grand Rapids’ streets, demanding justice.
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Two months went by before the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office announced a second-degree murder charge against Schurr in June 2022. He was fired from the Grand Rapids Police Department days later.
Patrick Lyoya, left, a 26-year-old Congolese immigrant and father of two young daughters, was shot and killed April 4, 2022 during a struggle with then-Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, who is charged with second-degree murder.Lyoya photo provided by Israel Siku and (MLive file photo)
A Grand Rapids district court judge ordered Schurr to stand trial that October after listening to evidence. From there, legal proceedings dragged as Schurr’s attorneys brought appeals to the state Court of Appeals and then the state Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court ruled last December it would not hear arguments in the case.
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A jury has been picked, and the trial is set to begin Monday, April 28, in Kent County Circuit Court. Ahead of the high-profile trial, MLive/The Grand Rapids Press reviewed its archives and other information to look back at how this landmark case started.
Traffic stop turns deadly
It was 8:11 a.m. on April 4, 2022, when Schurr stopped Lyoya on Nelson Avenue SE north of Griggs Street because his car looked like one that had been reported stolen, and the license plate did not match the car.
Schurr told Lyoya – who was intoxicated – to stay in his car but Lyoya soon ran. The officer stopped him before the two struggled over the officer’s Taser, which Schurr had deployed twice but failed to hit Lyoya.
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Lyoya was on the ground, trying to get up, when the officer, on top of him, fired a shot into the back of his head. Michigan State Police took over the investigation. Schurr was placed on paid leave during the investigation phase.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom released dashcam, cell phone and bodycam video nine days after the altercation.
In the days after Lyoya’s death, protestors began flooding the streets, chanting, “Justice for Patrick.”
Activists packed Grand Rapids City Commission meetings, and, on at least two occasions, their chants forced the council to adjourn early.
RELATED: Protesters again shut down Grand Rapids city meeting demanding justice for Patrick Lyoya
Lyoya was laid to rest April 22 at Resurrection Cemetery in Wyoming. The graveside service followed a celebration of life at Renaissance Church of God in Christ in Grand Rapids with over 1,000 people, including Rev. Al Sharpton, in attendance.
Patrick Lyoya’s parents, Peter and Dorcas mourn as they lay their son to rest at Resurrection Cemetery in Wyoming, Michigan on Friday, April 22, 2022. Patrick, 26, a Black man was killed April 4, 2022 by a white Grand Rapids police officer. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com
RELATED: ‘Go in peace my son:’ Patrick Lyoya laid to rest with family at his side and public watching
State police turned its investigation over to Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker on April 28 for review. Becker’s office announced a second-degree murder charge against Schurr on June 9. Schurr, who was hired by GRPD in 2015, was then terminated.
Criminal proceedings get underway. Appeals delay case for years.
A preliminary examination was initially scheduled to begin that July. The hearing aims to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial in circuit court.
After two adjournments, the proceeding got underway in October. Lyoya’s passenger who took the video, a homeowner who witnessed part of the struggle, and a Grand Rapids police captain were among those to testify.
Following two days of testimony, Grand Rapids District Judge Nicholas Ayoub ordered Schurr to stand trial on a second-degree murder charge.
RELATED: Grand Rapids police officer to face murder trial for Patrick Lyoya’s killing
The trial was initially set to begin in March 2023.
However, Schurr’s defense filed an appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals, which ruled months later, that Schurr should stand trial.
The defense then filed an appeal to the state Supreme Court. The higher court ruled in December 2024 that it would not hear Schurr’s appeal to have the case tossed.
A trial date was set within a day of the ruling.
Landmark murder trial finally set to begin
For the Lyoya family, it’s been more than three years of waiting for justice. Schurr has been free on bond since his arraignment.
Trial testimony will begin Monday, April 28, in Kent County Circuit Judge Christina Mims’ courtroom.
RELATED: ‘We are not at peace,’ Patrick Lyoya’s dad says days before police officer’s trial begins
Becker will prosecute the case. Schurr is represented by defense attorneys Matt Borgula, Mark Dodge and Mikayla Hamilton.
Schurr’s state of mind will be at issue in his upcoming murder trial – not what Patrick Lyoya was thinking before their deadly confrontation, a judge previously ruled.
MLive file photo - Protesters march in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday, April 16, 2022. The protest was in response to the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya, a Black man was fatally shot and killed by a white Grand Rapids police officer on April 4 during a traffic stop. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com
Schurr has not decided whether to testify, his defense team previously said, but court filings suggest he will.
The use of the Taser is expected to be a key issue at trial. Both cartridges were discharged but it still could be used as a “drive-stun device” when pressed against skin.
For all of MLive’s coverage on the case, visit here.
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Patrick Lyoya
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