The family of Patrick Lyoya, a Black man who was tragically shot in the back of the head during a traffic stop in April, has filed a $100 million federal lawsuit against Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the now-retired police officer.
Attorneys for the victim’s family claim that during the sad encounter, the victim’s civil rights were violated. Instead of placing a value on the life of the deceased, they are asking for nine figures in order to put pressure on the city to properly address police violence against people of color.
According to civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who is a part of the legal team defending Peter Lyoya and the estate of his son, race and authority abuse are at issue.
Black people frequently pass away as a result of these traffic stops. During a press conference on December 7, Crump remarked, “We want it to be a deterrence for the next cop that pulls over a Black motorist. Not just so his son’s life won’t go in vain, but more importantly.”
Crump claims that the family is seeking punitive and compensatory damages totaling $100 million. When you mix using excessive force and driving while Black, Patrick Lyoya was wrongly killed by this Grand Rapids police officer, Crump told reporters.
The lawsuit Atlanta Black Star obtained claims that on April 4, Schurr struck the 26-year-old with excessive force. Around eight in the morning, Lyoya was traveling through a residential area in a tan 2003 Nissan Altima with a companion when Schurr caught his attention.
The Black man was driving in the opposite direction when 31-year-old Schurr turned on his emergency lights and beckoned for him to stop. When Lyoya obliged and stepped outside his car on his own initiative, the police yelled at him to go back inside.
