GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A trial date has been set in the civil wrongful death lawsuit against former Grand Rapids Police officer Christopher Schurr in the death of Patrick Lyoya.
According to court documents, the jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 19, 2026, in Kalamazoo. The trial is estimated to last three weeks.
Lyoya family alleges excessive force in suit against ex-officer
The 12-page civil lawsuit was filed in federal court in 2022 by Lyoya’s family. It accuses Schurr of violating Lyoya’s Fourth Amendment protections against excessive force and of gross negligence and willful and wanton misconduct under state law.
Ex-officer’s appeal in Patrick Lyoya civil suit dismissed
Last year, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati dismissed Schurr’s appeal in the civil case, citing “lack of appellate jurisdiction.” Schurr’s attorneys have argued he is protected by qualified immunity, which, generally speaking, prevents officers from being sued for actions they took in the line of duty.
The city of Grand Rapids was previously removed from the Lyoya family’s lawsuit, but the family’s attorneys were attempting to get it added again.
Prosecutor will not retry Christopher Schurr in Patrick Lyoya’s death
An undated photo of Patrick Lyoya courtesy family.
Schurr was previously charged with second-degree murder for the killing of Lyoya, 26, during a traffic stop on April 4. Video shows Lyoya ran away and there was a struggle that included Lyoya grabbing Schurr’s Taser. The Taser never made contact with either man. The video shows that Schurr, who was on top of Lyoya trying to hold him down, shot Lyoya in the back of the head.
In May, a jury deadlocked in the murder case and the judge ordered a mistrial. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker later announced that he would not retry Schurr, ending the criminal case against him.
Following the announcement that Schurr would not be retried, the attorney for Lyoya’s family, Ven Johnson, said the family is awaiting their day in civil court.
“The Lyoya family has not only lost Patrick, but now the hope that former officer Christopher Schurr will ever be held criminally accountable for taking Patrick’s life. With today’s decision, what was once a pause in justice has now become a permanent reality. This is not a verdict nor the outcome the Lyoya family sought,” attorney Ven Johnson stated. “We will continue to stand with the Lyoya family in their pursuit of truth, accountability and justice for Patrick, and are awaiting our day in civil court.”
