Grand Rapids, Michigan officer Christopher Schurr was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Patrick Lyoya, a black man.
Patrick Lyoya was fatally shot by Officer Schurr after violently resisting arrest in April.
As previously reported, various videos of the scene show Lyoya, 26, and another passenger being pulled over in a residential neighborhood.
Officer Christopher Schurr exited his patrol car and instructed Lyoya to stay in his car.
Patrick Lyoya
Lyoya exits his vehicle despite officer Schurr yelling at him to “stay in the car” repeatedly.
After some back-and-forth over a license plate and driver’s license, officer Schurr chases Lyoya and the two end up on the ground fighting over a taser gun.
Schurr repeatedly tells Lyoya to “let go of the taser” – shortly after another struggle, the cop shoots Lyoya in the head.
Patrick Lyoya has a long criminal history that includes a conviction for assaulting a pregnant woman in Kentwood, Michigan.
Officer Schurr was charged with second-degree murder, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Schurr faces LIFE IN PRISON.
NBC News reported:
A Michigan prosecutor has charged a Grand Rapids police officer who fatally shot Patrick Lyoya during a traffic stop in April with one count of second-degree murder.
Kent County prosecutor Chris Becker announced his decision Thursday after he spent six weeks reviewing forensic and toxicology reports, as well as the results of an official investigation conducted by Michigan State Police.
“This is not a quick decision I took lightly,” Becker said when announcing the charge. “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 said charges have already been filed against Officer Christopher Schurr. The officer has turned himself in and will be arraigned on Friday, he added.
A second-degree murder charge is a felony offense in Michigan punishable up to life in prison.