Michigan Police Officer Charged With Murder After Killing Black Motorist

Other cameras — from the officer’s vehicle, a nearby doorbell security system and a bystander’s cellphone — capture different portions of the encounter. Shortly before the fatal shot is fired, Officer Schurr yells, “Let go of the Taser.” Mr. Lyoya is facing the ground and pushing up, with the officer on top of him, in the moments just before the shooting.

After the shooting, city officials pledged to learn from the encounter and evaluate Police Department policies.

“When I saw the video, it was painful to watch,” Mark Washington, the Grand Rapids city manager, said when the videos were released. “And I immediately asked, ‘What caused this to happen, and what more might have been done to prevent this from occurring?’”

Mr. Lyoya’s parents said he was a good son who provided some financial support to his family and sometimes came by their home on weekends to help his siblings. He held a range of jobs over the years, including at a turkey processor and an auto parts manufacturer.

Investigation: Deadly Police Traffic Stops in the U.S.

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The consequences of traffic stops. A New York Times investigation in 2021 examined why traffic stops for minor offenses sometimes escalate into deadly encounters. Here are some key findings:

Common encounters turned fatal. Between 2016 and 2021, police killed more than 400 drivers or passengers who were not wielding a gun or a knife or under pursuit for a violent crime. Many vehicle stops begin for common traffic violations or questioning regarding nonviolent offenses.

There’s a financial incentive. Traffic stops are often motivated by hidden budgetary considerations. Many communities rely heavily on ticket revenue to fund their budgets, effectively turning their officers into revenue agents searching for violations to support municipal needs.

Overstated risks stoke fears. A presumption of peril has become ingrained in court precedents — contributing to impunity for most officers who use lethal force at vehicle stops. In dozens of encounters, officers stepped in front of moving vehicles or reached inside car windows, then fired their guns, claiming self-defense.

Police missteps created danger. Many courts focus only on when an officer pulled the trigger, but some argue that judges and juries should scrutinize the actions of officers before they opened fire. It is possible that dozens of deaths might have been avoided had police officers not put themselves in danger.

But Mr. Lyoya had struggled since arriving in Michigan. He had been arrested more than a dozen times, mostly for misdemeanors involving cars, and he also faced three charges for domestic violence. At the time of his death, Mr. Lyoya was on probation, his driver’s license was revoked and there were two warrants out for his arrest, including one for a domestic-violence charge three days earlier. He had told friends he was trying to get his life together.

Acquaintances of Officer Schurr, who grew up near Grand Rapids, described him as a stickler for rules. He was a member of his college track team, and he married his wife during a Christian mission trip to Kenya in 2014. Members of his college team said Officer Schurr might be quick to anger.

After the shooting, city officials released records showing that Officer Schurr had been commended more than a dozen times and cited twice for minor issues, like damaging a police car, that did not result in any discipline.