On April 4, 2022, a 26-year-old Black man named Patrick Lyoya, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was fatally shot in the back of the head by Grand Rapids Police Officer Christopher Schurr following a traffic stop. The incident began around 8 a.m. when Schurr, who is white, pulled Lyoya over, stating the license plate did not match the vehicle.
Shortly after, Lyoya began to run from the officer.
A physical struggle ensued between the two men on the front lawn of a residential neighborhood. During the altercation, Officer Schurr deployed his Taser twice, though it did not make contact with Lyoya. The struggle continued with both men on the ground, and Schurr was heard demanding that Lyoya let go of his Taser. While Lyoya was face down on the ground, Schurr drew his firearm and fired one shot into the back of Lyoya's head, killing him. An official autopsy confirmed that Lyoya died from a gunshot to the back of his head and also revealed his blood-alcohol level was 0.29, more than three times the legal limit for driving.
Following the shooting, the Michigan State Police conducted an investigation. On June 9, 2022, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced that Officer Christopher Schurr was being charged with one count of second-degree murder. Schurr turned himself in and was later released on a $100,000 bond. The Grand Rapids Police Department suspended Schurr without pay and initiated termination proceedings.
Schurr's trial for second-degree murder began in the spring of 2025. The prosecution argued that the use of deadly force was not justified, while the defense maintained that Schurr acted in self-defense, fearing for his life after Lyoya gained control of his Taser. After several days of testimony and deliberations, the jury was unable to reach a verdict, resulting in the judge declaring a mistrial on May 8, 2025. Two weeks later, on May 22, 2025, Prosecutor Becker announced that he would not seek a retrial for Schurr, and the murder charge was dropped. Schurr has since sought to have the records from his criminal trial expunged. The Lyoya family has also filed a civil lawsuit against Schurr, with a trial date set for October 2026.
