# Prosecutor Drops Charges Against Former Grand Rapids Officer In 2022 Shooting Death

Hung Jury After Four Days Deliberations Leads To Decision Not To Retry Case

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced Thursday he will not retry former Grand Rapids Police Officer Christopher Schurr in the 2022 death of Patrick Lyoya after a jury could not reach a verdict in the second-degree murder trial.

The decision comes weeks after Judge Christina Mims declared a mistrial on May 8, 2025, following four days of jury deliberations. Becker told reporters he believes a second trial would not produce a different outcome.

The Juror Split Drives Decision

Becker described the jury as conscientious and engaged throughout the week-long trial. He said the jury initially split evenly at 4-4-4 before shifting to a 7-5 majority in favor of acquittal. The final deadlock occurred on a 10-2 split.

"This was not a case with a rogue juror," Becker said. "They paid attention, they did a lot to try and arrive at a verdict and they couldn't arrive at a verdict."

Becker said the jury heard over a week of testimony and spent days deliberating. He stated he had done everything possible to present his case and stood by his decision not to seek another trial.

Background Of The Case

The incident occurred on April 4, 2022, when Schurr stopped a Nissan Altima for improper license plates during a traffic stop. Body camera and dash camera footage showed Lyoya, a 26-year-old Congolese immigrant, running after the officer tackled him.

Schurr testified he feared for his life after losing control of a Taser during the struggle. He stated he was "running on fumes" after the fight and believed he was not going to survive if he did not shoot Lyoya.

Lyoya's father, Peter Lyoya, spoke through an interpreter after the mistrial was declared. "It hurts my family, my wife. We are bleeding. We are in pain," he said. "We'll continue to fight until we get true justice for Patrick."

Lyoya was a refugee who had come to the United States from eastern Congo to escape civil unrest. He had two children and had been living in Grand Rapids for about five years.

Community Divided

The decision has split the community in two directions. Schurr was fired from the Grand Rapids Police Department shortly after being charged with second-degree murder on June 9, 2022.

Supporters of Schurr celebrated the mistrial, while Lyoya's family and civil rights groups called for another trial. A civil lawsuit against Schurr is still pending.

Becker noted that his office has had 15 hung juries in the past six years, with only one case being retried. He said he would need time to consider whether to drop all charges or pursue a plea agreement instead of retrying the case.

"I think we had a really good jury," Becker said. "These were very conscientious jurors. They were put in a unique situation."

Related Cases

The mistrial in Schurr's case came at a time when other police shootings were also resulting in legal uncertainty. Three former Memphis police officers were acquitted in the beating death of Tyre Nichols earlier in 2025, another case that revealed the limits of the post-George Floyd reckoning over police reform.

Becker also recently announced four mistrials in murder cases in Kent County during 2025, raising questions about the county's legal system.

What Comes Next

Becker said he would take time to consider his options, including dropping all charges or pursuing a plea agreement. He did not commit to any specific action at this time.

Lyoya's family attorney Ven Johnson said his clients were "very disappointed" in the decision but would continue to pursue justice through civil means.

Schurr, 34, has received multiple commendations during his seven years with the Grand Rapids Police Department before the shooting. He had previously worked as a track team member at Siena Heights University.