Demands grow for a white officer in Michigan to be charged in Black motorist's death

Demands grow for a white officer in Michigan to be charged in Black motorist's death

Transcript¹

Activists² are calling for charges against Grand Rapids Police Officer Christopher Schurr in the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya following a scuffle after a traffic stop.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

In Grand Rapids, Mich., there are increasing calls to charge the police officer who shot and killed a Black driver during a traffic stop last month. While the investigation³ is ongoing⁴, the officer is still on the payroll⁵ and receiving benefits. From member station WGVU, Kylie Ambu reports.

KYLIE AMBU, BYLINE⁶: It's been about a month since residents here were stunned⁷ by the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya. The Black Congolese refugee was killed by Christopher Schurr, a white Grand Rapids police officer, following a scuffle during a traffic stop.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

CHRISTOPHER SCHURR: Stop. Stop.

AMBU: Body camera footage shows Schurr making the stop when he's unable to match the license⁸ plate with the car Lyoya's driving. When Schurr made physical contact, Lyoya ran away, leading to a foot chase and a struggle over the officer's Taser. The scuffle ended with Schurr on top of a face-down Lyoya and Schurr shooting him in the back of the head. Officer Schurr is on paid leave and stripped of his policing duties pending⁹ an investigation by Michigan State Police. Patrick Lyoya's parents call the killing¹⁰ unjustified. Speaking through an interpreter, his father, Peter, says it was an execution of his firstborn son.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PETER LYOYA: (Through interpreter) I was thinking that Patrick will take my place. And to see that my son has been killed like an animal by this police officer, I see that I have no life. I see my heart been broken. I'm asking for justice.

AMBU: The Grand Rapids Police Officers Association has thrown its support behind Schurr. It released a statement calling Lyoya's death tragic¹¹ but affirming Christopher Schurr's actions, saying an officer, quote, "has the legal right to protect themselves and community in a volatile¹², dangerous situation such as this in order to return to his or her family at the end of their shift." While Michigan State Police investigate the incident, ultimately, it's Kent County prosecutor¹³ Christopher Becker who will determine whether to charge Schurr in Lyoya's death. There have been calls for Becker to recuse himself because of the long-standing relationship between the prosecutor's office and police department. But Becker says there's no reason he should step down.

CHRISTOPHER BECKER: I don't know any of the individuals involved in the case. I don't know the officer involved. I don't know Mr. Lyoya. So, you know, the law is pretty clear on when disqualification is appropriate, and none of those are met here. I've done numerous officer-involved shootings over the past six years I've been elected. I don't know why it would change now.

AMBU: Becker has received a preliminary investigative report from the state police but says he's still waiting on forensic¹⁴ findings from the manufacturer of the body camera and Taser.

BECKER: I have no idea what comes back from that. It could be earth-shattering. It could be nothing. But, you know, you don't want to make a decision before you get that material.

AMBU: As the city awaits, public pressure continues to mount for police reform.

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: We are fighting for our lives, too. We could be the next Patrick.

AMBU: There have been weekend protests and marches that have shut down a city commission meeting. Additionally, since 2020, activists like Olabanji Olatunde (ph) have been rallying for police reform.

OLABANJI OLATUNDE: If people would have listened, it would have been preventable. But now it's just like an I-told-you-so moment. That's exactly what it is now. I told you so.

AMBU: Grand Rapids city leaders say they are making changes, proposing to more than double the budget for its Office of Oversight¹⁵ and Public Accountability. Activists' calls remain consistent. They want Christopher Schurr charged and fired and the department held accountable in Patrick Lyoya's death. For NPR News, I'm Kylie Ambu in Grand Rapids.

(SOUNDBITE OF CHRISTOPHER SCOTT ATUNDE ADJUAH'S "DANZIGER")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

6 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

7 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

8 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

9 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

10 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

11 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

12 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

13 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

14 forensic   

adj.法庭的，雄辩的

参考例句：

• The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence.该报告包括他对法庭证据的诠释。
• The judge concluded the proceeding on 10:30 Am after one hour of forensic debate.经过近一个小时的法庭辩论后，法官于10时30分宣布休庭。

15 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。