A Michigan prosecutor announced Thursday that a police officer who fatally shot a Black man in the back of the head following a contentious traffic stop will not face a second trial. This decision comes two weeks after the initial trial ended without a unanimous jury verdict.
Prosecutor Chris Becker’s decision is expected to provoke strong reactions from civil rights advocates and the family of Patrick Lyoya, the 26-year-old Congolese immigrant whose death in April 2022 was captured on video and repeatedly shown during the trial.
Christopher Schurr, 34, a former Grand Rapids police officer, claimed he feared for his life and shot Lyoya because the man had gained control of his Taser. Schurr was charged with second-degree murder in Lyoya’s death.
The fatal encounter occurred after Schurr stopped Lyoya’s vehicle for an incorrect license plate. Lyoya exited the car, failed to produce a driver’s license, and subsequently fled on foot, leading to a physical struggle lasting over two minutes. The video evidence showed Schurr on top of Lyoya when he fired the fatal shot into the back of Lyoya’s head.
During the trial, defense experts argued that the use of deadly force was justified, asserting that Schurr, exhausted from the struggle, faced the risk of serious injury if Lyoya had deployed the Taser. In contrast, prosecution experts contended that Schurr had alternative options, including allowing Lyoya to escape.
The reasons for Lyoya’s attempt to flee remain unclear. Records indicate that his driver’s license was revoked at the time, and there was an outstanding arrest warrant for him in a domestic violence case, information that Schurr was reportedly unaware of during the stop. An autopsy revealed Lyoya’s blood-alcohol level was significantly above the legal driving limit.
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