Kent County prosecutor, Christopher Becker, said he needs more information from Michigan State Police before he can decide whether to charge Grand Rapids police officer, Christopher Schurr, in the death of 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya.
Schurr, a White Grand Rapids police officer fatally shot the Black Congolese man during a scuffle, involving a taser, at a traffic stop last month.
Michigan State Police is investigating the incident. Detectives sent a report to Becker about a week ago but said they were still waiting on forensic findings from the manufacturer of the body camera and taser.
As of Wednesday, Becker still hasn’t received these documents. The prosecutor said he won’t make a decision on charges until these reports come in. In an interview, Becker told WGVU he’s also requested additional information about the case, the details of which he would not reveal.
“I’m not going to get into that. I’m not going to divulge the investigation, where we’re going. There’s just other materials, and once I make the decision it all may become available. But for now, I’m not saying what else I’m looking for,” Becker said.
When asked about the significance of the forensic reports of the body camera and taser, Becker said he’s not sure what to expect.
“I’m not sure what comes back from that. It could be earth shattering. It could be nothing, but you don’t want to make a decision before you get that material,” he said.
A timeline for Becker’s decision or when the evidence will come in hasn’t been given.
