Michigan
Jury begins deliberations in murder trial of former Michigan police officer
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Jurors began deliberations Monday over whether a former Michigan police officer could have reasonably feared that he was at risk of great bodily injury or death when he shot and killed 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya, a Congolese immigrant, over three years ago.
In closing statements Monday morning, prosecutors said videos of a traffic stop show that former Grand Rapids officer Christopher Schurr was not in danger at the time, while defense attorneys argued the same videos show Lyoya had control of Schurr’s Taser, a weapon that discharges small amounts of electricity to incapacitate someone. Schurr, who is white, was charged with second-degree murder and faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Jurors have the option to convict Schurr of the lesser charge of manslaughter, which carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $7,500.
“I hope you’re not getting callous,” Kent County prosecutor Christopher Becker said to the jury in his closing statement. “How many times have you watched this video of another person — Patrick — dying over and over and over again?”
Jurors watched videos of the shooting — taken from multiple angles on a doorbell camera, body camera, dashboard camera and a bystander’s cellphone — numerous times throughout the trial, sometimes side by side and sometimes frame by frame.
Schurr pulled over a vehicle driven by Lyoya for improper license plates in April 2022 in a residential Grand Rapids neighborhood, roughly 150 miles (240 kilometers) west of Detroit. Video footage shows Schurr struggling to subdue Lyoya as they grappled over the officer’s Taser. Schurr told Lyoya to stop resisting and drop the weapon multiple times throughout the encounter.
While Lyoya was facedown on the ground with Schurr on top of him, the officer took out his gun and shot him once in the back of the head.
Schurr testified last week that he thought Lyoya was going to use the Taser against him.
Referencing photos of the encounter shown to the jury, Becker argued that Lyoya was trying to avoid being shot with the Taser and was attempting to get away from Schurr, rather than harm him. Lyoya never had a tactical advantage over Schurr, Becker said, and did not pose a threat.
“You can’t take a life without a darn good reason,” Becker said.
Lead defense attorney Matthew Borgula walked jurors through the traffic stop again during his closing, arguing that Schurr performed his duties as a police officer reasonably at each moment.
“He’s doing his job,” Borgula said.
Borgula said Schurr was on Lyoya’s back because he was trying to get the Taser back. He said officers do not have to wait to be injured to use deadly force, referencing testimony from several high-ranking Grand Rapids police officers last week. Schurr was fired from the department shortly after he was charged in 2022.
“Christopher Schurr was at work, and he was faced with the toughest decision of his life in half a second,” Borgula said.
The fatal shooting prompted weeks of protest in Grand Rapids, and demonstrators on both sides have protested outside of the Kent County courthouse during the trial. Civil rights groups decried the shooting as part of a pattern of aggression perpetuated against Black people in the U.S. by white officers.
DETROIT — A man who spent nearly 21 years in prison for the deaths of two Michigan hunters agreed to a $5.25 million settlement after accusing police of failing to turn over evidence that could have helped him at trial, a lawyer said Monday.
Jeff Titus was released in 2023 and his murder convictions were erased at the request of prosecutors. The Innocence Clinic at University of Michigan law school and two investigators got authorities to acknowledge that an Ohio serial killer might have been the person who killed the hunters in 1990.
Titus had long declared his innocence.
“It’s been a long road for Jeff,” attorney Wolf Mueller said. “He’s 74. He lost two decades of his life. The money doesn’t make up for the loss of decades, but it allows him to put this part of his life behind him.”
An email seeking comment from the lawyer who defended a retired homicide detective in the lawsuit wasn’t immediately answered.
Doug Estes and Jim Bennett were fatally shot near Titus’ property in Kalamazoo County in 1990. Titus initially was cleared as a suspect, but murder charges were filed against him 12 years later. Prosecutors portrayed Titus as a hothead who didn’t like trespassers.
Students and staff at University of Michigan law school were trying to get him a new trial when a 30-page file from the original investigation was discovered at the county sheriff’s office. It was a blockbuster: It referred to an alternate suspect, Thomas Dillon of Magnolia, Ohio.
Jacinda Davis, at the TV network Investigation Discovery, and Susan Simpson, through the podcast “Undisclosed,” had raised doubts about Titus’ guilt and aired questions about Dillon’s possible role.
Dillon died in prison in 2011. He was arrested in 1993 and ultimately pleaded guilty to killing five people in Ohio who had been hunting, fishing or jogging.
The lawsuit that was settled Monday did not center on Dillon as an alternate suspect. Rather, police were accused of violating Titus’ rights by not sharing information that could have cast doubt on the trial testimony of a key witness, Mueller said.
Warm and humid air will remain in place across southeast Michigan today and Tuesday, creating favorable conditions for multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms. Stay weather aware with our 4Warn Weather app as storms may bring damaging winds, large hail, torrential rainfall, and isolated tornadoes. We have issued a 4Warn Weather alert for both afternoons and evenings.
Severe Weather Risk Today
A Slight Risk for severe weather covers nearly all of southeast Michigan today as an approaching disturbance interacts with unstable air and increasing humidity. Scattered thunderstorms could develop later this afternoon and evening. These storms will have the potential to produce:
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Damaging wind gusts
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Large hail
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Locally heavy rainfall
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Isolated tornadoes
The primary window for severe weather is expected between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., although a few isolated storms could develop earlier in the afternoon. Rain and thunderstorms may also linger into the late evening hours.
Another Round Possible Tuesday
The severe weather pattern is expected to continue Tuesday with another Slight Risk (Level 2 out 5) covering all of southeast Michigan. Warm, unstable conditions will clash with an approaching cold front and once again support thunderstorm development during the afternoon and evening hours, especially between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday’s storms may again be capable of producing:
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Damaging wind gusts
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Large hail
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Heavy downpours
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Isolated tornadoes
Make sure to monitor our forecasts closely and have multiple ways to receive weather warnings during both days.
Cooler Air Arrives Midweek
After the active weather pattern exits, a significant cooldown is expected across the region. Temperatures will fall nearly 20 degrees from Tuesday into Wednesday as cooler and drier air moves into the Great Lakes. High temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday are expected to remain in the 60s, bringing a refreshing break from the recent heat and humidity. Overnight lows will be in the 40s, so the cooldown doesn’t propose a threat for frost.
Memorial Day Weekend Outlook
Looking ahead, conditions appear much more comfortable for Memorial Day weekend. Forecast highs are expected to return to the 70s with seasonable late-May weather anticipated across southeast Michigan.
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NORMAN — Oklahoma softball is headed to its 16th consecutive Super Regional.
The No. 3 overall seeded Sooners defeated Michigan 8-1 in the NCAA Tournament Norman Regional final on Sunday afternoon in front of 3,947 at Love’s Field. OU will host Mississippi State or Saint Mary’s next weekend.
Speedy center fielder KaI Minor led the Sooners offensively, finishing 2 for 5 at the plate with a home run, a double and three runs scored. Isabela Emerling and Gabbie Garcia added two hits, while Ailana Agbayani recorded two hits and a solo homer.
In the circle, Audrey Lowry allowed just one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts and zero walks in 4 ⅔ innings. In relief, senior Kierston Deal struck out one in a full inning and Sydney Berzon tossed a hitless 1 ⅓ innings.
OU outhit Michigan 9-3 in the win.
The Sooners jumped out to an early three-run lead in the first inning after Minor ripped a double to left center, her third leadoff double in four games, while Ella Parker walked and Gabbie Garcia singled Minor in. Then, with the bases loaded, Isabela Emerling singled down the left field line to score Garcia and Kasidi Pickering, who was hit by a pitch.
OU added a run in the second and fourth, two in the fifth and one in the seventh to finish off the Wolverines. Minor crushed her 11th home run of the season 261 feet to deep left center field in the fourth.
The Sooners will begin Super Regional play on either Thursday or Friday. Mississippi State and Saint Mary’s meet in the Eugene Regional final at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Here’s a recap of the Sooners-Wolverines NCAA Tournament game:
Ailana Agbayani extended OU’s lead in the seventh with a solo homer to right field.
It was Agbayani’s second hit and second RBI of the day.
End 6: Oklahoma 7, Michigan 1 | Kierston Deal, Sydney Berzon handle Wolverines
Michigan was sat down in order in the sixth.
Sydney Berzon entered to record the third out of the inning after Kierston Deal ended her day with a strikeout in one full inning.
Kasidi Pickering popped up, Allyssa Parker fouled out and Abby Dayton grounded out in the sixth.
Audrey Lowry’s day is finished after she allowed just one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Kierston Deal recorded the final out of the fifth.
OU added two runs to its lead in the fifth.
Ailana Agbyani doubled to center field, scoring Abby Dayton. Then, Ella Parker walked with the bases loaded to score Agbayani.
Jenissa Conway, Sydney Hastings and Erin Hoehn all grounded out for Michigan in the fourth.
Kai. Minor.
The Sooners’ freshman center fielder crushed a solo home run to center field to give OU a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning.
Audrey Lowry forced two groundouts and struck out Ella Stephenson in the third.
Lowry has allowed one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts through three.
Abby Dayton flew out, Isabela Emerling struck out and Ailana Agbayani grounded out in the third.
Erin Hoen, Michigan’s current pitcher, smacked a solo shot 229 feet to left center field to put the Wolverines on the board. It was the first run OU has given up this weekend in the Norman Regional.
Ella Parker ended the inning with a diving catch.
Kai Minor reached on a fielder’s choice and scored her second run of the day following an Ella Parker single and Gabbie Garcia flyout. The RBI was Garcia’s second of the day.
Michigan starter Gabby Ellis’ day ended after one time through OU’s lineup. She allowed three earned runs and two walks in a full inning.
Erin Hoehn, in the Wolverines’ lineup as designated player, took over in the circle and allowed a hit and walk.
Michigan left fielder Ella Stephenson singled but the Wolverines stranded her at first.
Kai Minor is inevitable. The Sooners’ speedy center fielder ripped a double to left center, her third leadoff double in four games before Ella Parker walked and Gabbie Garcia singled Minor in. It was Garcia’s 72nd RBI this season.
Then, with the bases loaded, Isabela Emerling singled down the left field line to score Garcia and Kasidi Pickering, who was hit by a pitch.
OU leads 3-0 early.
Oklahoma is starting sophomore left-hander Audrey Lowry against Michigan in the NCAA Tournament Norman Regional final on Sunday. Lowry started the Sooners’ 11-0 run-rule victory over Binghamton on Friday, allowing a leadoff single before retiring the next six batters she faced and striking out three across two innings.
Here’s OU’s starting lineup against the Wolverines:
- CF: Kai Minor
- RF: Ella Parker
- SS: Gabbie Garcia
- DP: Kasidi Pickering
- C: Kendall Wells
- LF: Abby Dayton
- 1B: Isabela Emerling
- 2B: Ailana Agbayani
- 3B: Sydney Barker
What time is Oklahoma vs Michigan today? When is OU softball game today?
- Date: Sunday, May 17
- Time: 2 p.m. CT
The Oklahoma vs Michigan game starts at 2 p.m. CT Sunday from Love’s Field in Norman. If OU loses, Game 2 will start about 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
What channel is Oklahoma vs Michigan today? Where to watch OU softball on TV, streaming
Oklahoma vs Michigan will be broadcast on SEC Network and streamed on ESPN+.
How to listen to OU softball on the radio
Chris Plank (play-by-play) will have the OU radio call on The Franchise 2 (KEBC 1560 AM) and the Varsity Radio App.
Norman Regional schedule
Double elimination from Friday-Sunday (May 15-17) at Love’s Field.
Friday’s games
Game 1: No. 3 Oklahoma 11, Binghamton 0 (5)
Game 2: Kansas 1, Michigan 0 (8)
Saturday’s games
Game 3: No. 3 Oklahoma 9, Kansas 0 (5)
Game 4: Michigan 6, Binghamton 0
Game 5: Michigan 12, Kansas 10
Sunday’s games
Game 6: No. 3 Oklahoma (50-8) vs. Michigan (36-21), 2 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Rematch Game 6, 4:30 p.m.
OU softball highlights vs. Michigan
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Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
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