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Sat, 19 Apr 2025 11:48:00 -0700
marlon from private IP, post #13542848
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Police experts clash over Patrick Lyoya’s killing as ex-officer’s trial nears
https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2025/04/police-experts-clash-over-patrick-lyoyas-killing-as-ex-officers-trial-nears.html
Patrick Lyoya, left, a 26-year-old Congolese immigrant and father of two young daughters, was shot and killed three years ago this month during a struggle with
then-Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, who is charged with second-degree murder. (MLive.com)Lyoya photo provided by Israel Siku and (MLive file
photo)
By John Agar | jagar@mlive.com
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr’s use of deadly force against Patrick Lyoya was unreasonable and excessive,
prosecution experts said.
He also failed to warn Lyoya, 26, he would use deadly force three years ago, contrary to generally accepted police practices, they said.
“In this case, Officer Schurr was in a position of tactical advantage – he was behind and on top of Mr. Lyoya – when he grabbed his sidearm … ,”
Nicholas Bloomfield and Seth Stoughton wrote in their report about the traffic stop and fight that ended in the fatal shooting of the Congolese immigrant.
The former police officers and leading use of force experts, said that over 4.5 seconds elapsed from when Schurr put his hand on his firearm to the firing of
the fatal shot.
Schurr told Lyoya to drop the Taser “but he made no effort to warn Mr. Lyoya of the consequences of not doing so,” the experts wrote in a report.
Jeffrey Martin, a defense-hired consultant, said the prosecution’ experts “cherry-picked factors” in faulting Schurr.
Related: Former Grand Rapids officer’s state of mind, not Patrick Lyoya’s, focus of murder trial
“The ‘reasonableness’ of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene rather than with the 20/20
vision of hindsight,” Martin wrote.
He said the prosecution experts did not consider the “totality of circumstances,” notably Schurr’s 2-½ minute struggle with Lyoya, who was trying to get
away from the officer.
The prosecution experts said a reasonable officer would have known that both Taser cartridges had been discharged, meaning Lyoya, if he possessed the Taser, did
not pose a threat.
Related: Will ex-police officer testify at his own murder trial in Patrick Lyoya’s killing?
But Martin noted that Schurr told state police investigators: “‘I believed that Patrick was attempting to point the taser at me as I was trying to gain
possession of the taser so I could attempt to use the second cartridge.”
Schurr, 34, contends that he shot Lyoya in self-defense after an April 4, 2022, traffic stop on Nelson Avenue SE near Griggs Street. The defense says Lyoya
gained control of the former officer’s Taser.
Schurr is charged with second-degree murder. His trial in Kent County Circuit Court is to begin with jury selection on April 21, with testimony beginning a week
later.
Related: 3 years after deadly shooting of Patrick Lyoya, police officer’s murder trial looms
Schurr had stopped Lyoya’s car around 8:10 a.m. because the license plate did not belong to the car he was driving. His passenger said Lyoya’s car had
broken down.
Lyoya, who was intoxicated, tried to run from the officer.
The defense says that Lyoya gained control of the officer’s Taser, even switching it to his other hand, while they struggled on the ground. He was lifting
himself, with Schurr above him, when Schurr yelled, “Let go of the Taser!”
Video showed that moments later, he fired a single shot.
The defense disputed the idea Schurr, in chasing Lyoya, caused officer-created jeopardy.
Lyoya was a Black man. The former officer is white. The shooting led to protests. Schurr says he acted in self-defense.
The state Supreme Court says police can use deadly force when there is “probable cause to believe that an individual presents an imminent threat of death or
great bodily harm to the officer or others.”
The belief does not have to be correct.
Sun, 20 Apr 2025 18:55:55 -0700
whiteguyinchina from private IP
Reply #19569866
I think each of these cases is unique, but I would say deadly force is reasonable if some drunk dude fights with the
cop, takes away his tazer and points it at him.
Sun, 20 Apr 2025 19:52:29 -0700
marlon from private IP
Reply #17645943
good minds think alike
Mon, 28 Apr 2025 08:51:48 -0700
marlon from private IP
Reply #14031946
https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2025/04/video-of-police-officer-killing-patrick-lyoya-shown-at-murder-trial-in-grand-rapids.html
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