Jurors are continuing deliberations in the trial of former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, who faces charges related to the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya. Deliberations began Monday and resumed Tuesday, marking approximately seven hours of discussion as of midday.
The court instructed the jury they could consider a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter in addition to the initial second-degree murder charge. Second-degree murder carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison, while manslaughter is a 15-year felony.
Attorneys for Christopher Schurr objected to the inclusion of the voluntary manslaughter option. Outside attorney Josh Blanchard described the defense team's move to try and avoid a compromise verdict as a "gutsy move."
The defense has maintained that Schurr acted in self-defense during the encounter. They argued he made a split-second decision to protect himself during a struggle.
Conversely, prosecutors contend that Lyoya was attempting to flee and was killed for no reason. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker presented this argument to the jury.
The incident occurred on April 4, 2022, after Schurr stopped Lyoya's vehicle because the license plate did not match. A physical confrontation ensued after Lyoya exited the vehicle and reportedly shoved the officer. The struggle escalated over control of the officer's Taser, ending with Lyoya being shot while facedown on the ground.
The high-profile nature of the case has drawn national attention, highlighting racial dynamics as Lyoya was a Black Congolese refugee and Schurr is White.
Legal analyst Lew Langham noted that four hours of deliberation on the first day was not an extensive period given the seriousness of the charges and the trial's length. He suggested conflicting expert testimony might cancel each other out, leaving jurors to focus on simpler questions like "Why didn't Patrick just stop? Why didn't he let go of the taser? Why did Officer Christopher Schurr feel he needed to make the decision to fire his weapon?"
Judge in Christopher Schurr murder trial rejects bias claim by defense
