After the shooting, city officials pledged to learn from the meeting and evaluate the policies of the Police Department. “When I saw the video, it was painful to watch it,” said Mark Washington, the director of Grand Rapids, when the video was released. And I immediately asked, “What caused this to happen and what else could have been done to prevent it?” Mr. Lyoya’s parents said he was a good son who provided some financial support to his family and sometimes went home on the weekends to help his siblings. Over the years he has held a number of jobs, such as a turkey maker and a car parts manufacturer.
Investigation: Deadly police traffic stops in US
Card 1 of 5 The consequences of traffic jams. A New York Times study in 2021 looked at why traffic jams for minor offenses sometimes escalate into deadly encounters. Here are some key findings: The joint meetings became fatal. Between 2016 and 2021, police killed more than 400 drivers or passengers who did not carry a gun or knife or were being prosecuted for violent crime. Many vehicle stops start for common traffic violations or for questions about non-violent offenses. There is a financial incentive. Traffic jams are often motivated by hidden fiscal reasons. Many communities rely heavily on ticket revenue to fund their budgets, effectively turning their officers into revenue-seeking employees in support of municipal needs. Overrated risks trigger fears. A presumption of danger has been established in court precedents – contributing to the impunity of most officers who use deadly force at vehicle stops. In dozens of clashes, police officers entered in front of moving vehicles or reached through car windows, then fired their weapons, claiming self-defense. The mistakes of the police posed a danger. Many courts focus only on when an officer pulled the trigger, but some argue that judges and jurors should review officers’ actions before opening fire. It is possible that dozens of deaths could have been avoided if the police had not put themselves in danger. But Mr. Lyoya had been struggling since he arrived in Michigan. He had been arrested more than a dozen times, mostly for car-related offenses, while also facing three counts of domestic violence. At the time of his death, Mr. Lyoya was on probation, his driver’s license was revoked, and there were two warrants for his arrest, including one for a domestic violence charge three days earlier. He had told friends he was trying to make a living. Acquaintances of Officer Schurr, who grew up near Grand Rapids, described him as a gunman. He was a member of his college track and field team and married his wife during a Christian mission trip to Kenya in 2014. College team members told him that Officer Schurr could get angry quickly. After the shooting, city officials released records showing that Officer Schurr had been praised more than a dozen times and had been reported twice for minor issues, such as damage to a police car, which led to no discipline.
