A Michigan prosecutor has charged a Grand Rapids police officer who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya throughout a visitors cease in April with one rely of second-degree murder.
Kent County prosecutor Chris Becker introduced his resolution Thursday after he spent six weeks reviewing forensic and toxicology studies, in addition to the outcomes of an official investigation performed by Michigan State Police.
“This is not a quick decision I took lightly,” Becker mentioned when asserting the cost. “I hope that it sends the message that we take these cases seriously.”
“Everyone thinks prosecutors are an arm or branch for police and we are not … Our duty is pubic safety, we work with them but we don’t work for them.”
Becker mentioned prices have already been filed towards Officer Christopher Schurr. The officer has turned himself in and shall be arraigned on Friday, he added.
A second-degree murder cost is a felony offense in Michigan punishable as much as life in jail.
The prosecution stems from an April 4 encounter the place Schurr pulled over Lyoya, who got here to the U.S. as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2014.
Schurr informed Lyoya, 26, that he had stopped him as a result of the license plate didn’t match the automobile, in keeping with police video launched shortly after Lyoya’s loss of life.
Four movies, together with from a dashcam and a cellphone, confirmed Lyoya and Schurr struggling on the bottom, with Lyoya apparently attempting to take management of the officer’s stun gun. The officer ended up restraining Lyoya with his knee to his again and finally shot him as he was facedown on the bottom.
His loss of life sparked a string of protests in Grand Rapids, with lots of demanding justice and transparency from metropolis and police officers.
Lyoya’s household is represented by civil rights legal professional Benjamin Crump, who referred to as for the speedy firing and felony prosecution of Schurr.
Crump lauded Becker’s resolution.
“We are encouraged by attorney Christopher Becker’s decision to charge Christopher Schurr for the brutal killing of Patrick Lyoya, which we all witnessed when the video footage was released to the public,” Crump said in a statement shortly after the announcement.
“While the road to justice for Patrick and his family has just begun, this decision is a crucial step in the right direction. Officer Schurr must be held accountable for his decision to pursue an unarmed Patrick, ultimately shooting him in the back of the head and killing him — for nothing more than a traffic stop.”
Other state leaders, together with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, additionally supported the prosecutor’s name.
“At the Department of Attorney General, we understand the exceptional resources needed to evaluate police-involved shooting deaths and I commend Prosecutor Becker, his team and the Michigan State Police for the exhaustive review conducted these last two months. We must now respect the judicial process and allow the facts of the case to be presented in court.”
Becker, who initially bought the report from Michigan State Police on April 28, on the time mentioned he was ready on further information, together with the taser report. Becker mentioned he obtained every little thing earlier this month and he was in a position to make his resolution inside eight days.
The Kent County health worker confirmed in an official post-mortem report final month that Lyoya was shot in the again of the top. The report matched an earlier impartial post-mortem commissioned by Lyoya’s household.
The post-mortem additionally revealed that Lyoya’s blood-alcohol degree was 0.29, greater than thrice the authorized restrict for driving, when his automobile was stopped, in keeping with the Detroit Free Press.
Becker mentioned he shall be attempting the case himself and that he’s in contact with the Lyoya household.
“The loss of a child causes unimaginable pain and stress. I deeply appreciate their patience,” he mentioned. “I stand by my decisions in the past, and I stand by this one.”