Officer who shot Lyoya identified by GRPD chief

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.) The Grand Rapids Police Department has named the officer who shot and killed 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya on April 4. 

In a statement released Monday afternoon, GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom said, "In the interest of transparency, to reduce on-going speculation, and to avoid any further confusion, I am confirming the name already publicly circulating - Christopher Schurr - as the officer involved in the April 4 Officer Involved Shooting."

Winstrom said Schurr pulled Lyoya over for the license plate of the car he was driving not matching the vehicle registration. 

In video released by GRPD, Lyoya can be seen running from Schurr before a physical struggle that ended with Schurr shooting Lyoya in the back of the head.

Protesters have been calling for the officer's name to be released for the last few weeks. 

Winstrom previously said the officer's name would not be released unless he was charged with a crime. 

The Lyoya family also had an independent autopsy done by Dr. Werner Spitz, a forensic pathology expert. 

Ben Crump and Ven Johnson, attorneys for the Lyoya family, released the results of that autopsy report last week. 

Crump and Johnson say Spitz's report show that Lyoya died from a single gunshot wound that entered the back of his skull near the midline.

Schurr is currently on administrative leave while the Michigan State Police investigate the incident. 

On Friday Special Lt. Michelle Robinson released a statement on the investigation. 

"Detectives are taking every measure to ensure all evidence and facts are accurately collected and documented," Robinson said. "We recognize the importance of this investigation, and we are sensitive to the need to complete it in as timely and efficient of a manner as possible. As with any investigation gathering all the facts and documenting every piece of evidence takes time and we appreciate the patience of the community as we work to conduct a thorough and complete investigation."

Once the investigation is complete, the Kent County Prosecutor will decide if charges will be filed against Schurr.