Opening arguments in the trial of former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr commenced, three years after he fatally shot Black motorist Patrick Lyoya during a traffic stop in April 2022. Charged with second-degree murder and pleading not guilty, Schurr’s defense claims he acted within his rights as a police officer amidst a struggle where Lyoya allegedly reached for Schurr’s stun gun. Lyoya’s family has filed a $100 million civil lawsuit against Schurr and the city, while the U.S. Supreme Court denied Schurr’s appeal for qualified immunity.
