Michigan Court to Hear Dispute Over Murder Charge Against Ex-Police Officer Who Shot Black Motorist

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) Lawyers for a former Michigan police officer are asking the state appeals court to throw out a murder charge in the killing of a Black motorist in 2022.

The court is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday in the case against Christopher Schurr, who shot Patrick Lyoya in the back of the head after a morning traffic stop in Grand Rapids turned into a short foot chase and vigorous struggle.

In a filing, Schurr's attorneys said lower courts wrongly applied the law to the circumstances of Lyoya's death.

Officer Schurr reasonably believed a felony had occurred and reasonably believed that Lyoya had committed that felony, justifying his use of deadly force to prevent Lyoya from fleeing from arrest, the defense team said.