The Michigan police officer who shot and killed an African immigrant, Patrick Lyoya, during a chaotic traffic stop in 2022, took the witness stand Friday, offering an emotional and deeply personal account of the moments leading up to the fatal encounter.
Christopher Schurr, 34, now on trial for second-degree murder, told jurors that he feared for his life after losing control of his Taser during a prolonged physical struggle. “I believed that if I hadn’t done it at that time, I wasn’t going to go home,” he said, describing the split-second decision to fire a single shot into Lyoya’s head as the two grappled on the wet ground.
Visibly emotional, Schurr wiped his eyes and sniffled as video of the fatal confrontation played in court, AP reported. It marked his first public explanation of the events that unfolded on that cold, rainy morning in Grand Rapids. “I’m running on fumes,” he told the jury, echoing the exhaustion captured in the footage.
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The case has drawn national attention, not only for the deadly outcome but for the broader issues it raises about race, policing, and the use of force. Lyoya, a 26-year-old African immigrant, was unarmed when he was pulled over for driving a vehicle with mismatched license plates. He failed to produce a driver’s license, then fled on foot. Schurr gave chase, and a struggle ensued—one that would end with Lyoya pinned facedown, the officer on top, and a fatal shot fired.
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Video captured from multiple angles—Schurr’s body camera, the police cruiser, and a bystander’s cellphone—shows the officer repeatedly demanding that Lyoya surrender the Taser. At some point during the scuffle, Lyoya had gained control of the weapon.
Jurors must now weigh whether Schurr’s actions were a reasonable response to a perceived threat. “It’s important to get my side of the story out,” Schurr said from the stand, underscoring what he framed as a life-or-death moment.
Though the motive behind Lyoya’s decision to flee remains unclear, court records reveal that his driver’s license was revoked and that an arrest warrant was active in a domestic violence case. An autopsy later showed his blood alcohol content was triple the legal limit for driving—details Schurr did not know at the time.
During cross-examination, prosecutor Chris Becker pressed Schurr on the consistency of his testimony, comparing it to statements made to investigators three years ago. Becker also highlighted the imbalance of power in the final seconds. “He never said he was going to kill you, right? Never said he was going to hit you. Never said he was going to kick your butt or do anything bad to you,” Becker said.
Schurr held firm. “I shot him because I believed he was going to use it on me,” he replied. “He started to turn up towards me. I felt if I didn’t respond at that time, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Sure, but he’s not here, is he?” the prosecutor countered.
“No, he’s not,” Schurr admitted.
Outside the courthouse, a show of support for the embattled officer included people waving “thin blue line” flags along a downtown sidewalk. Inside, the courtroom was filled with both Schurr’s and Lyoya’s families, watching as the case continued to unfold.
The trial has largely become a duel between expert witnesses. Prosecutors have called use-of-force experts who argue that lethal force was not justified. In contrast, the defense has relied on testimony from high-ranking Grand Rapids officers who contend that once the Taser was in Lyoya’s hands, Schurr’s life was in legitimate danger.
Schurr was fired in 2022 following his arrest, a decision made at the recommendation of Police Chief Eric Winstrom. That move, Winstrom said, was based on the bodycam and bystander videos, a state police investigation, and Schurr’s own internal interview.
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