Jury resumes deliberations in trial of former Grand Rapids officer Christopher Schurr
Grand Rapids — Jurors entered their fourth day of deliberations Thursday in the second-degree murder trial of a former Grand Rapids police officer accused of fatally shooting a Black motorist in 2022.
The jury is deliberating whether Christopher Schurr, 34, is guilty of second-degree murder or an alternate charge of voluntary manslaughter after he shot and killed Patrick Lyoya, 26, during a chase in April 2022. The two struggled over Schurr's Taser before the former officer shot Lyoya in the back of the head.
The jury began deliberations Monday and told Kent County Circuit Court Judge Christina Mims on Tuesday that they were deadlocked after deliberating for about 10 hours over the course of two days. Mims asked them to keep deliberating.
The jury deliberated all of Wednesday and were scheduled to begin deliberations again at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
Lyoya's death, which occurred amid years of tense relations between the city police and Black residents, drew national attention. Schurr was fired after the shooting.
Protesters have been a steady presence outside the 17th Circuit Court in Grand Rapids over the past several days. Some have carried "Black Lives Matter" flags and chanted criticism of Schurr and Grand Rapids police, while others have carried flags in support of police. The protests have been mostly peaceful with some verbal clashes between the two groups.
Schurr's attorneys have argued he was afraid for his life and acted in self defense; but prosecutors have maintained there was no "imminent threat" when Schurr shot Lyoya.
Second-degree murder carries a sentence of up to life in prison, while voluntary manslaughter carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
Freelance writer Sarah Leach contributed.
eleblanc@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Jury resumes deliberations in trial of former Grand Rapids officer Christopher Schurr
