GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Great Lakes News) – The Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) backtracked its own statements on Monday, naming the officer who killed Patrick Lyoya on April 4th.
The GRPD identified Christopher Schurr as the officer. According to police video, Schurr pulled over Lyoya and he refused to comply. After a struggle, Lyoya reached for Officer Schurr’s taser. That’s when Schurr shot Lyoya.
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Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom stated in an April 13th press conference that per department policy the officer would not named unless charges were filed against him. Protests occurred over the weekend following Lyoya’s Friday funeral. Winstrom reversed course on Monday.
“In the interest of transparency, to reduce ongoing speculation, and to avoid any further confusion, I am confirming the name already publicly circulating — Christopher Schurr — as the officer involved in the April 4 officer-involved shooting,” Winstrom said in a statement.
Schurr is on administrative leave until both the internal investigation from GRPD and the separate investigation from Michigan State Police are complete.
Winstrom has been on the job as the GRPD chief since February 1st after working in Chicago.
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