Free Republic

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Judge Christina Mims has declared a mistrial in the trial of Christopher Schurr after the jury was unable to reach a verdict. For parts of four days, the jury deliberated over whether the former Grand Rapids police officer was guilty of second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter in the death of Patrick Lyoya. On Tuesday, Judge Mims read an instruction — also known as the Allen charge — to the jurors, encouraging them to "talk things over in the spirit of fairness and frankness." Ultimately, the twelve could not reach unanimity in the case, causing a mistrial...

A Grand Rapids police officer, who was seen on video shooting Patrick Lyoya after a car stop, has been charged with second-degree murder. Christopher Schurr, who shot the unarmed Lyoya in the back of the head during a struggle, was charged by prosecutors in Kent County, Michigan, on Thursday. “The death was not justified or excused, for example, by self-defense,” prosecutor Chris Becker said.