
The lights on the bridges and buildings of downtown Grand Rapids lit up at nighttime. /John Rothwell
The lights on the bridges and buildings of downtown Grand Rapids lit up at nighttime. /John Rothwell
The Kent County Prosecutor Releases a Statement Updating the Public on the Status of the Patrick Lyoya Case
On May 18, about a month and a half after Patrick Lyoya was killed by Christopher Schurr of the Grand Rapids Police Department, Kent County Prosecutor Christopher Becker released a statement detailing the case's progress. As of Wednesday, when the statement was released, Becker revealed that he had not yet recieved the full investigative report from the Michigan State Police. However, he is anticipating that it will be finished by early next week (at the latest). He also stated that he is not yet ready to make a formal charging decision:
"After receiving the partial investigative report from the MSP on April 28, 2022, I have been in regular contact with their investigators, and I have provided follow-up questions regarding the initial documentation. However, while reviewing the material that has been provided thus far, I determined that additional expert guidance -- beyond the scope of the MSP -- is needed in order for me to make a fully informed decision. I have begun to seek this expert guidance."
In the meantime, Prosecutor Becker has asked the community to be patient while he comes to a decision. "I recognize the investigation appears to be moving painstakingly slowly... it is impertive that I review all the facts and evidence before making a charging decision," he said. "In this situation, my decision can only be made by taking the time to gather all the available information -- both from the MSP and from state and national experts."
This statement comes after the Grand Rapids community has increased its demand for answers and accountability from GRPD, MSP, the Kent County Prosecutor, and other city officials. Just last week, protests caused the May 10 City Commission meeting to end prematurely. The April 26 meeting also ended early for the same reason. Additionally, the Grand Rapids Police Department reported that the homes of several City Commissioners were vandalized on Monday night. At Commissioner Jon O'Connor's house, a brick was found on the lawn. It had been wrapped with a newspaper article highlighting the death of Patrick Lyoya and someone had written "blood is on your hands" on it. The Grand Rapids Police Department is conducting an investigation into these vandalisms and is asking anyone with information to contact GRPD at (616) 456-3380 or Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345.
The City of Grand Rapids Experiences a Wave of Violent Crime
Over the last week, Grand Rapids has seen a massive spree of gun violence throughout the city. In response to this uptick in violence, Silent Observer has increased its reward amounts for useful tips about homicides and shootings resulting in serious injury and/or property damage. Anyone with information about any of the following shootings is asked to contact the Grand Rapids Police Department or Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345:
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