‘I believed… I wasn’t going to go home’: Officer Schurr claims self-defense in Patrick Lyoya shooting trial.

The second-degree murder trial of former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr reached a critical stage as Schurr testified in his own defense. His testimony focused on his argument that he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Patrick Lyoya, an African Immigrant, during a traffic stop in April 2022.

The incident started as a standard traffic stop after Schurr noticed that the license plate on Lyoya’s vehicle did not match, according to AP News and FreeP. Lyoya, a Black man, could not provide a driver’s license, which led to a chase on foot and then a physical fight. The struggle lasted more than two minutes, during which Schurr tried to use his taser on Lyoya. The attempt failed, and the taser fell to the ground as they wrestled.

During the fight, Schurr repeatedly called for backup, saying he was “running on fumes.” Video evidence, including footage from a bystander, Schurr’s body camera, and the police car’s dashcam, shows the intense physical struggle. The video captures Schurr on top of Lyoya and ends with Schurr firing the fatal shot into the back of Lyoya’s head.

Former officer claims self-defense

Schurr testified that he believed Lyoya, who had gotten hold of the taser, was an immediate deadly threat. He said his training taught him that a taser could cause extreme pain, and he feared Lyoya would use it on him, possibly leaving him unable to defend himself and allowing Lyoya to take his gun. This fear, Schurr explained, was why he decided to use deadly force.

Being a former law enforcement officer myself, I know that the use of deadly force needs a few things, at least in Nevada. To put it in plain English, you need to have no avenue of escaping that situation otherwise, and you must fear for your life or the lives of those around you. I understand that being in the situation makes things difficult, and since we don’t have the video, I can’t say he had no reason.

A two-minute fight means he was pretty tired and can’t leave the suspect. However, unless the suspect tried to get up after and had a hold of the taser as described, it’s hard to imagine the need to shoot him in the back of the head.

The prosecution presented a different version of events. The prosecutor pointed out differences between Schurr’s testimony and what he had told investigators earlier, especially about his physical condition during the fight. The prosecution also stressed that Schurr was on top of Lyoya during the struggle, suggesting he had the upper hand.

The prosecutor added that Lyoya never verbally threatened Schurr. The prosecution also called use-of-force experts who testified that deadly force was not necessary to handle the situation.

The defense responded by calling several high-ranking Grand Rapids Police Department officers as witnesses. These officers testified that Schurr’s actions matched his training and that he was in real danger because Lyoya had his taser. Their statements supported the defense’s claim that Schurr acted in self-defense.