GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A Michigan judge declared a mistrial on Thursday in the case of a former Grand Rapids police officer who fatally shot a 26-year-old Black man in the back of the head in 2022.

Patrick Lyoya, whose family immigrated to the U.S. from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Grand Rapids after he tried to flee on foot, Michigan, by former officer Christopher Schurr in an incident caught on video. The shooting sparked widespread outrage and protests, and and accusations of systemic racism in local law enforcement.

Following the shooting, Schurr was charged with second-degree murder, leading to a highly publicized trial that culminated in a mistrial declared on Thursday.

The trial was marked by intense scrutiny and emotional testimonies from both sides. The prosecution argued that Schurr’s use of deadly force was unjustified, emphasizing that Lyoya was unarmed and posed no immediate threat at the time of the shooting. They presented video evidence showing the struggle between Schurr and Lyoya, which they claimed demonstrated the officer’s excessive use of force.

Schurr’s defense attorney maintained that Schurr acted in self-defense, asserting that Lyoya had attempted to take the officer’s taser during the altercation, thereby justifying the use of lethal force.

It’s unclear why Lyoya ran from police after he was stopped on April 4, 2022.

Jurors deliberated for several days but ultimately failed to reach a unanimous decision, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial.

When a mistrial is declared, it can lead to a retrial or the potential for the charges to be dropped altogether.

The mistrial was met with mixed reactions, with supporters of Lyoya expressing disappointment and frustration.

More on the mistrial and fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya.