KENTY COUNTY, Mich. – The family of Patrick Lyoya held a press conference Thursday morning following a judge declaring a mistrial in the case of the former police officer who shot and killed him in 2022.
A judge has declared a mistrial in the case against Christopher Schurr, the former Grand Rapids police officer who shot and killed Patrick, after the jury was unable to reach a verdict on Thursday.
Attorney Ven Johnson, representing the Lyoya family, held a press conference shortly after the trial. Patrick’s parents were sitting next to Johnson during the press conference.
Kent County Commissioner and Israel Siku were also present at the media briefing.
Siku spoke as an interpreter on behalf of Patrick‘s parents during the press conference on May 8, 2025.
“It hurts. My family, my wife, we are bleeding,” said Peter Lyoya, Patrick’s father. “We are in pain. But, I would like to thank our legal team that stood by me and my family, fighting, and all the activists and all of the community who stood by us. We will continue to fight under we get the true justice for Patrick.”
“I will not give up on my son,” said Dorcas Lyoya, Patrick’s mother. “We are not going to be tired until we find justice for our son.”
Dorcas also said she did not appreciate how Schurr presented himself in the trial.
“It seemed like he had no remorse,” she said. “He had no guilt--didn’t care that he took the life of a human being. It seemed like he only killed an animal. That’s how he presented himself. Basically did not show any emotion that he was wrong for what he did.”
Peter said he was hoping to hear from Schurr about how sorry he was regarding the death of Lyoya, “But no; he didn’t care.”
Related: Prosecutor, defense attorney speak out following mistrial of ex-officer who shot Patrick Lyoya