When 21-year-old Maverick Lyon stepped out of his family’s front door on January 6 during a chaotic hostage situation, a knife fell from his hand, his hands were extended, and police officers opened fire anyway, shooting him at least five times in the back, chest, and face.
That winter break visit home from Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire has now turned into a federal civil rights lawsuit filed against the City of Albany and two police officers, KVAL reported.
A Family Crisis on NW Twins Lane
The emergency began on January 6 at a home on the 1300 block of NW Twins Lane in Albany, Oregon, when David Lyon called 911. According to the Benton County District Attorney’s Office and court records, David Lyon placed the call after watching via home security cameras as his 27-year-old son, John “Dakota” Lyon, grabbed a large kitchen knife and held Maverick Lyon hostage.
Dakota Lyon had recently been released from prison and was living with his parents. Investigators noted that he had relapsed on drugs and grown convinced that Maverick and their father were conspiring to harm him. Before police arrived, Maverick managed to grab a knife of his own in an effort to defend himself, eventually convincing his brother to let him pick it up under the guise of confronting their father together.
Ring doorbell footage and police video from the scene captured the rapid-fire sequence that followed law enforcement’s arrival. Officers approached the house, noted a knife, and shouted orders for Maverick Lyon to step outside.
The Seconds Outside the Front Door
Four officers stood outside as the door opened. Video footage shows Maverick Lyon exiting the home while police yelled instructions to drop the weapon. As he fell to the ground, the knife dropped from his hand, and officers continued firing.
According to the complaint filed by Stritmatter Law and Levi Merrithew Horst PC, officers opened fire even after Maverick complied with commands. The lawsuit alleges that one officer continued shooting after Maverick had already fallen to the ground. In the video recording, Maverick can be heard shouting, You guys got the wrong guy. He was holding me hostage.
Alicia LeDuc Montgomery, an attorney representing the family, pointed out that responding officers had clear physical descriptors for both brothers before they arrived. The aggressor did not have a shirt on. But Maverick did,
Montgomery said, noting that officers even called Maverick by name while ordering him to roll onto his stomach to be handcuffed after the shooting.
Why Did Oregon Police Keep Shooting an Unarmed Victim? The strongest evidence of excessive force concerns shots fired after the victim was already falling. On January 6, Albany officers Matt Thomas and Engle Diaz shot 21-year-old Maverick Lyon as he escaped his knife-wielding… https://t.co/1ZQy4O584I
Maverick Lyon survived the barrage of gunfire, but the physical toll was severe. He was rushed to Samaritan Corvallis General Hospital for an eight-hour emergency surgery that required the removal of multiple organs, including half of his right lung, alongside extensive reconstruction of his small intestine. He spent four weeks in the hospital and faced months of grueling physical recovery.
Lawsuit Alleges Excessive Force and Negligence Against Agencies
The federal civil rights lawsuit alleges Fourth Amendment excessive force violations against the City of Albany and the individual officers involved. It also includes negligence claims against Benton County and county probation officer Joshua Hall, asserting that the parents had directly asked county officials to detain Dakota Lyon just one day prior to the incident due to his escalating erratic behavior.
Following an internal review of the incident, the Benton County District Attorney’s Office previously determined that the officers’ use of force was legally justified. Prosecutors argued that Maverick Lyon was still in the process of dropping the knife as he came through the door, creating a reasonable fear for officer safety, and noted that officers rendered immediate first aid.
Meanwhile, 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.
The Albany Police Department declined to comment on the pending litigation, stating that it has not yet been formally served with the complaint.
Earlier coverage: Maverick Lyon files suit over Albany police shooting after domestic disturbance
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