Kent County Prosecutor Ends Retrial for Ex-Officer Schurr in Patrick Lyoya Case

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced that former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr will not be retried after his murder trial for the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya in April 2022 ended in a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury. Schurr was charged with second-degree murder but claimed self-defense, stating he feared for his life after Lyoya seized his Taser during a physical altercation following a traffic stop. Despite extensive testimony and video evidence shown to the jury, they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, leading Becker to conclude that a retrial would not likely result in a different outcome. Schurr's case will be dismissed with no further charges pursued. The decision has been met with disappointment from Lyoya's family and their attorney, who expressed that justice has been denied but vowed to continue seeking accountability through civil court. The case drew significant attention due to the circumstances of the shooting and Lyoya's background as a Congolese immigrant, with civil rights advocates also voicing concern over the prosecutor's decision.