College Lacrosse Player Files Lawsuit Against Albany Police After Being Shot During Hostage Situation

Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed Against Albany Police After Hostage Escape Shooting

A college lacrosse player who survived being held hostage at knifepoint only to be shot at least five times by responding officers is now seeking accountability in federal court. Maverick Lyon, then a student at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the City of Albany and two police officers following the January 6 incident, KVAL reported.

The confrontation unfolded at a family home on the 1300 block of NW Twins Lane in Albany, Oregon. David Lyon called 911 after watching via a home security camera as his 27-year-old son, John “Dakota” Lyon, relapsed on drugs, grabbed a large kitchen knife, and held 21-year-old Maverick Lyon hostage, according to KPTV.

Ring Doorbell Footage and the Moments Leading to the Shots

Security camera footage from the scene captures the frantic seconds after police arrived. An officer is seen opening the front door, spotting a knife, and ordering Maverick Lyon outside. Four officers stood outside as the encounter escalated rapidly.

College lacrosse player sues Albany police after being shot during hostage standoff

According to the lawsuit filed by legal representatives Stritmatter Law and Levi Merrithew Horst PC, Maverick Lyon had managed to grab a knife of his own to defend himself while trapped inside. When he ran out of the house, video shows one officer deploying a Taser while multiple officers shouted commands to drop the weapon. The complaint states that Maverick complied, dropping the knife and extending his hands just as officers opened fire.

Alicia LeDuc Montgomery, an attorney representing the family, pointed out that the responding officers had descriptions of both brothers before entering the situation. The aggressor did not have a shirt on. But Maverick did, Montgomery said, as reported by KPTV. Video footage shows that immediately after shooting Maverick multiple officers called him by name, shouting instructions for him to roll onto his stomach to submit to handcuffing.

College Lacrosse Player Files Lawsuit Against Albany Police After Being Shot During Hostage Situation — Photo: kcby.com

As Maverick Lyon lay wounded in a fetal position with his hands on his face, he can be heard on video yelling, You guys shot the wrong guy.

Severe Injuries and Criminal Proceedings for the Brother

The shooting left Maverick Lyon with critical injuries to his back, chest, and face. He was transported to Samaritan Corvallis General Hospital, where he underwent an arduous eight-hour surgery. The lawsuit details that he spent four weeks in the hospital, had multiple organs removed—including half of his right lung—and required extensive reconstruction of his small intestine.

Albany police face lawsuit after college lacrosse player shot during hostage standoff

While the civil case moves forward, the criminal case against Dakota Lyon has concluded. Dakota Lyon pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted kidnapping, unlawful use of a weapon, and coercion. In June, a Benton County Circuit Court judge sentenced him to 77 months in prison.

Prosecutors Clear Officers as Federal Lawsuit Proceeds

Following an internal review, the Benton County District Attorney’s Office deemed the officers’ use of deadly force legally justified. The district attorney asserted that Maverick Lyon was still dropping his knife as he came through the door, creating a reasonable fear for officer safety, and noted that police rendered first aid at the scene.

The current federal lawsuit names two individual Albany police officers, the City of Albany, Benton County, and a county probation officer, Joshua Hall. The negligence claims against the county and probation officer stem from allegations that the parents had asked officials to detain Dakota Lyon just a day prior due to his increasingly erratic behavior.

The Albany Police Department has declined to comment on the pending litigation, noting that it has not yet been formally served with the complaint.