Michigan court hears arguments over murder charge against ex-police officer who shot Black motorist

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI
Associated Press

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan appeals court heard arguments on whether a former police officer should go to trial for a murder charge in the killing of a Black motorist in 2022. The murder charge stems from a morning traffic stop that ended with then-Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr shooting Patrick Lyoya in the back of the head while on top of him. Schurr’s lawyers asked the court to throw out the murder charge, saying deadly force was justified to prevent Lyoya from fleeing. Schurr is set to go to trial in October. There is no time frame for the court to render a decision after Wednesday’s arguments.