Michigan officer Christopher Schurr faces civil rights trial for 2022 shooting of Patrick Lyoya

U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney has granted a trial in the civil‑rights lawsuit filed by the family of Patrick Lyoya, a 26‑year‑old Congolese immigrant who was shot in the back of the head by Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr in 2022. The judge ruled that the case can proceed despite the officer’s claim of self‑defense and a prior second‑degree murder charge that was dismissed after a hung jury.

The lawsuit alleges that Schurr, who was on top of Lyoya after a traffic stop and foot chase, used unreasonable force, violating Lyoya’s Fourth Amendment rights. Video of the incident shows Lyoya unarmed and under the officer’s control. Schurr, fired from the Grand Rapids Police Department, faces potential liability under different legal standards than the criminal case.