GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A federal appeals court has decided that the civil case against former GRPD officer Christopher Schurr in relation to the death of Patrick Lyoya will go to trial.
Lyoya's family is suing Schurr in the civil suit. They allege that Schurr used excessive force when he shot and killed Lyoya during a traffic stop in 2022.
Schurr appealed to the court to have the case thrown out on grounds of governmental immunity.
The appeals court, however, determined they do not have jurisdiction in the case and dismissed Schurr's appeal. The court said the current dispute is over what happened the day of the shooting.
Lyoya's family had previously filed against the City of Grand Rapids as well, alleging the city had failed to train, supervise and discipline its officers on the use of excessive force. They also alleged that they had "an ongoing practice or custom of racial discrimination within the police department."
The city was dropped from the suit in August of 2023. The judge said the family's attorneys had failed to show sufficient facts to support the conclusion that the city's lack of training had any cause in Lyoya's death.