Grand Rapids, Mich. — A group of local clergy has issued a powerful open letter expressing their disappointment following the mistrial in the case of former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, who was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Patrick Lyoya. The clergy, who represent a range of religious organizations, have voiced their concerns over the jury’s inability to reach a verdict and the broader implications of the case for the community and the justice system as a whole.
The letter, signed by several pastors from churches across the city, comes after a jury failed to convict Schurr, leading to a hung jury and the declaration of a mistrial. The clergy members expressed their dismay, highlighting the emotional toll that the case has taken on the city and the sense of injustice felt by many in the community.
“For something that we expected to be very clear based on everything that was presented and what we saw when the incident took place, to come to a hung jury is somewhat disappointing,” said Pastor Kizombo Kalumbula of Tabernacle Community Church. He emphasized the long-standing struggle for police reform and expressed a sense of resignation, stating that while the result was disheartening, it was not surprising given the composition of the jury.
Pastor Jerry Bishop of LifeQuest Urban Outreach echoed Kalumbula’s sentiment, acknowledging the deep divisions the case has exposed in the city. “There would have been no victory regardless of the outcome. Our city is fractured. It might be permanently fractured,” Bishop said. He and other signatories of the letter are now calling on the prosecutor to bring charges against Schurr once more, demanding accountability and reform within the justice system.
The clergy’s letter stresses the need for systemic changes to ensure justice is not “selective, delayed, or denied.” It outlines key areas for reform, including overhauls to police training, better recruitment practices, and increased investment in mental health support and violence interruption programs. The clergy believe these measures are necessary to address the root causes of the tensions between law enforcement and the community.
Pastor Peter TeWinkle of Oakdale Park Church emphasized the long-term consequences the verdict could have on the community’s trust in the justice system. “What’s especially heartbreaking, as I think about the residents of the city, is that it will just further breed cynicism and anger. People will lose hope, and that’s incredibly frustrating when you try to bring them together and tell them that this is a great city, and it continues to let people down,” TeWinkle said.
While hopeful for a new trial, many clergy members voiced concerns that the outcome might not change. “The caveat of that new trial—will it change the hearts of the same jurors, although they will be reselected?” Bishop questioned. “It was very difficult to get a jury in West Michigan that would hear this case correctly.”
The clergy’s open letter serves as a rallying cry for both immediate and long-term changes. They are determined to keep pushing for accountability in the wake of the mistrial, calling for unity and reform to heal the wounds that persist within the community. The letter’s release marks another chapter in the ongoing fight for justice in the wake of Lyoya’s death—a fight that has galvanized many in Grand Rapids and across the nation.
