Chris Becker, the Kent County prosecutor, said during a news conference on Thursday that the cop who shot Patrick Lyoya in Michigan will be charged with second-degree murder.
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An eyewitness saw the accused police officer, Christopher Schurr, shoot Lyoya in the back of the head after a protracted struggle. In relation to the elements of second-degree murder, the prosecution stated the following:
According to Becker, the defendant would receive a life sentence with the chance of parole if found guilty of second-degree murder. Defense lawyers, meanwhile, have called the shooting “a regrettable event” rather than a homicide.
When a white police officer killed a black man, the public was horrified and many took to the streets to demand justice for Lyoya and harsh punishment for Schurr.
The father of Patrick Lyoya is fighting for justice in his son’s slaying
On April 4, Patrick Lyoya, a black man from the Congo, was asked to stop because the license plate on his vehicle didn’t match. Moments later, Lyoya and Schurr got into a heated altercation. After a prolonged battle on the ground in the rain, Schurr fatally shot and killed Lyoya.
Schurr was put on administrative leave after the event. Eric Winstrom, the chief of police in Grand Rapids, has urged that Schurr be fired. The city manager will make the decision, but the officer has a right to a hearing first.
In the meantime, there was a major uproar when Becker revealed the second-degree accusation. Attorney for Lyoya’s family Ben Crump said that charging Schurr with murder was the right course of action and that he should be held accountable.
In addition, Becker informed Patrick Lyoya’s parents of the accusations and sent them a letter in Swahili, which is their mother tongue. Peter Lyoya, the father of Patrick Lyoya, voiced his approval of the choice, saying:
“Up until now, we were certain that there was no justice in America. I want my child to receive full justice.
According to reports, Schurr turned himself in on Thursday and was due in court on Friday. His personnel file is fairly straightforward and has no charges of using excessive force. However, he has received accolades for busting people and making arrests in cases where drugs and firearms were found.
Regarding the implications of the murder charge for the department, Winstrom said:
Black Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack has suggested that the witness’ video testimony was essential to the prosecution’s case against Schurr for murder. Even though the officer was wearing a body camera, it was probably taken off as the two went to the ground, hence the killing was not captured.
Dana Nessel, the attorney general of Michigan, spoke on the subject separately.
The Michigan State Police and Prosecutor Becker are to be commended for their thorough investigation over the past two months. “At the Attorney General’s Office, we appreciate the enormous resources required to investigate police-involved shooting fatalities.
We must now adhere to the law and make it possible for the facts of the case to be presented in court.
A police officer killed Patrick Lyoya in the midst of the George Floyd case, which infuriated the country.
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