Patrick Lyoya Case Still Going To Trial
Since the shooting of Patrick Lyoya in 2022, there has not been a lot in the news about the progression of the case. In this interview with the Grand Rapids Times, NAACP President Cle Jackson and Attorney Carlton made the following comments.
Cle Jackson: Christopher Schurr was charged with the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya. Schurr's legal council has filed a number of motions in the lower courts to dismiss and to invalidate the charges at the Kent County Chief Prosecutor Christopher Becker brought forth. It is his constitutional right to file those motions. He went in front of two judges in an effort to have the charges dismissed on the basis of no merit to substantiate the charges. Both of the judges in the lower courts denied the motion. So within his rights, Schurr had the opportunity to the appeal to a three judge appellate court. Two of the judges said, "no you are going to trial."
Basically, at the Greater Grand Rapids Branch of the NAACP we agreed with the lower court decision. One attorney disagreed and agreed that the motion should be granted. The majority said no, so we are going to dismiss your motion and you need to go to trial. Schurr's legal team filed a motion with the Michigan Supreme Court. The issue is that Supreme Court actually does not have to hear the case.
They can dismiss and say that they agree with the lower court and decide that he has to go to trial and that is where the NAACP stands right now. In my opinion, based on what has been put in the media, the facts of the case that we all witnessed is why prosecutor Becker brought charges after an out cry from his family, the community, other organizations and from other people across the country who sent letters to the prosecutor who came into town to protest with activists on the street to say that the case needs to go to trial. The position of the NAACP is that it needs to go to trial. It has to go to trial because a family has lost a life that they will never get back and this is something that they will have to deal with for the rest of their lives. Officer Schurr made a decision to use deadly force, which was not necessary in our opinion. He could have used a number of other tacticks Instead of shooting Patrick in the back of the head while he was face down on the ground.
The community is confused from the stand point of why is this case taking so long? Community is also confused by the question of how can someone can file a petition with the appellate court and they have not even been to trial. The community is asking the question that if this had been a white kid, would the judicial system even allow this to take place.
Just like I said in the beginning, what we are witnessing is a circus and a level of judicial gymnastics that is insensitive, disrespectful to the young man who lost his life and his family.
It is also disrespectful to the Black community when we all have witnessed the harassment, the brutality and oppression by local law enforcement --not only here in Grand Rapids but across the state of Michigan and across this country. What we are not saying is that all officers are bad because they are not. Such a horrific incident happens like this, it needs to go to court and it needs to be put in front of a jury to decide the fate of this officer.
Attorney Carlton: Right now we have to wait on the Michigan Supreme Court. I think that what is important for the community to do is to make sure that their voices are not silent and are still being heard on this issue so that the courts, prosecutor and decision makers understand that the community is paying attention, the community is watching and the community cares about getting justice for Patrick Lyoya's death. Back in 2022 when this first happened, their was a lot of movement in regards to improving police and community relations in Grand Rapids. Now that movement has slowed compared to what it was two years ago. People in the community are not as engaged on this particular case.
There is not a lot of protesting or outreach efforts being made to keep the case in the media.
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, there is someone who is still paying to put Justice for Patrick poster boards. The local government and the police department have put out the narrative that it's just this one officer. The local police department itself does not have any issues and the issue is not a systemic problem.
Even when you look at this one officer, it's not really that big of a deal. When that happens, the community loses interest because they think that he has been arrested and that their job is over. That is not the case.
The pressure needs to be continuous and needs to be constantly put upon the prosecutors office to make sure that they actually put two hundred percent of the prosecutor's resources and expertise into making sure that former officer Schurr is prosecuted to the fullest extent and also making sure that the judge knows that the community will not be happy if they come down with a decision that would be in the favor of Officer Schurr where he gets off with little to no accountability for taking the life of Patrick Lyoya who was unarmed while legal force was used on him on camera.
So it is important that the community stays engaged and that they continue to come out, even on social media and or in person when the supreme court is heard.
I also think that it is important for them to write letters to the prosecutors office in particular, so that it is known that people are still paying attention and they are still ready and willing to hold the prosecutor accountable if they do not put their two hundred percent effort in prosecuting former officer Schurr.
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