GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The jury in the trial of Christopher Schurr was seated on Wednesday after two days of questioning from the prosecution and defense.
Of the twelve jurors and two alternates, ten are women and four are men.
In addition, ten of these people are white, three are Hispanic — including one who identified herself as a Venezuelan immigrant — and one is biracial with a black father and white mother.
"It's really not a concern. It shouldn't be a concern for either side," said defense attorney Matthew Borgula about the racial makeup of the jury.
Continuing, Borgula said the pool of more than 200 jurors summoned to 17th Circuit Court on Monday to be considered for jury service was a "very diverse group."
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker did not comment to FOX 17 on the jury selection process, though both he and Borgula agreed on the group with a number of peremptory challenges — a legal tool that allows an attorney to dismiss a juror for the betterment of their case — remaining in their pockets.
READ MORE: A pool of 200-plus fill out questionnaires ahead of jury selection
Notably, five of the fourteen jurors work in the medical field, six identified themselves as mothers and two disclosed a personal relationship with a non-Grand Rapids police officer.
The majority of jurors say they know of the second-degree murder case but are not knowledgeable about its specifics.
For some, this unfamiliarity included the cell phone video that shows then-Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr fatally shooting Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old black motorist, in the back of the head during a traffic stop in April 2022.
"Does that help one particular side? I don’t think so," Borgula said. "Both sides wanted people that didn’t form opinions about the evidence."
The majority of jurors also appear to be in their 20s and 30s, and only one is retired.
During the two-day process, 47 potential jurors were questioned by the prosecution and defense, 15 were dismissed by Judge Christina Mims for cause — typically due to a juror's admitted bias or inability to serve — and 18 peremptory challenges were used by Becker and Borgula (10 and 8, respectively).
"We're pleased with the jury and we'll be ready to present evidence," Borgula said.
The families of Christopher Schurr and Patrick Lyoya were both present in the courtroom on Wednesday, as was Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack, an activist who has rallied for social justice and police reform in the aftermath of the shooting.
"At least by the end, they had one African-American on there,” Womack said. "Just want to make sure there’s some representation on the jury."
Regardless of the jury's decision, Womack said the Lyoya family wants peace — no riots or violence.
Opening statements in the trial of Christopher Schurr will begin at 8:30am on Monday, April 28.
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SCHURR TRIAL: What to expect from jury selection to closing arguments
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