Oregon Student Sues Over Police Shooting After Knife Hostage Ordeal
Maverick Lyon says Albany officers shot him at least five times after he escaped a knife attack by his brother and dropped the knife he had taken for protection. The 21-year-old filed a federal lawsuit on November 4 against the city, Benton County and a county probation officer, alleging excessive force, negligence, battery and violations of his Fourth Amendment rights. He is seeking damages and a jury trial.
The lawsuit says Lyon’s parents had warned a probation officer the day before the shooting that his older brother, Dakota, had relapsed into drug use and was behaving dangerously. On January 6, their father saw on a home security camera that Dakota was threatening Maverick with a knife and called 911.
Police surrounded the home. The suit alleges officers could see the brothers through a window, and that Maverick mouthed a plea for help. It says he left through the back door after dropping his knife, but was shot after coming outside. The lawsuit also alleges officers ordered him to roll over and handcuffed him while he was bleeding. Albany police said at the time that two officers fired at a person carrying a knife and provided medical aid until emergency crews arrived.
Lyon spent four weeks in hospital and underwent extensive surgery, including removal of half his right lung and his spleen. His parents say they support the case and want accountability and changes to prevent similar events. Dakota later received a prison term exceeding six years in connection with the incident.
Benton County’s district attorney previously concluded the shooting was justified, saying officers had only fractions of a second to act and reasonably believed firing was necessary to protect themselves or colleagues. The county said it does not comment on pending litigation; Albany had not offered an immediate comment when contacted.
Lawsuit Challenges Police Shooting of Oregon Student Who Escaped Hostage Ordeal
A young college athlete who escaped a family hostage ordeal was shot at least five times by police, and his lawsuit demands answers from the agencies meant to protect him. Maverick Lyon filed a federal case on November 4 against Albany, Benton County and a county probation officer, alleging excessive force, negligence, battery and violations of his constitutional rights.
The suit says Lyon’s parents had alerted a probation officer that his brother Dakota had relapsed into drug use and was acting dangerously. The next day, their father saw Dakota threatening Maverick with a knife on a home camera and called 911. Maverick, who had taken a knife to defend himself, allegedly escaped through the back door and dropped it before officers shot him.
The complaint says police could see the brothers through a window and that Maverick signaled for help. It further alleges that officers ordered him to roll over and handcuffed him while he was bleeding. Albany police said officers fired at a person holding a knife and gave medical aid until emergency personnel arrived.
Lyon spent four weeks in hospital, had half his right lung and his spleen removed, and underwent extensive surgery. His parents back the lawsuit and say they want accountability and changes. The case puts the focus on whether officers responded appropriately to a vulnerable person fleeing an armed family member.
A district attorney previously deemed the shooting justified, saying officers had fractions of a second to make a decision and reasonably believed firing was necessary for protection. Benton County declined to comment on pending litigation, and Albany did not immediately respond.
Court Must Weigh Officers’ Split-Second Decisions in Oregon Shooting Case
A federal lawsuit over an Albany police shooting will test allegations of excessive force against a prior finding that officers acted reasonably in a dangerous, fast-moving encounter. Maverick Lyon filed suit on November 4 against the city, Benton County and a probation officer, claiming negligence, battery and violation of his Fourth Amendment rights.
Lyon says he escaped after his brother, Dakota, held him at knifepoint, and that officers shot him at least five times after he dropped the knife he had picked up for protection. The lawsuit says officers could see the brothers inside the home and that Maverick signaled for help. Albany police said at the time that officers encountered a person with a knife, fired their weapons and promptly provided medical aid.
The dispute follows a district attorney’s determination that the shooting was justified. The prosecutor said officers had only fractions of a second and believed firing was needed to protect themselves or fellow officers. That assessment is central to the case as Lyon seeks damages and a jury trial.
The shooting came after Lyon’s parents had told a probation officer that Dakota had relapsed into drug use and was acting dangerously, the suit says. Their father later called 911 after seeing the knife threat on a home camera. Dakota later received a prison term exceeding six years in connection with the incident.
Lyon spent four weeks in hospital and underwent major surgery, including removal of half his right lung and his spleen. His parents support the lawsuit. Benton County said it does not comment on pending litigation, while Albany had not offered an immediate comment when contacted.
Reported by NBC News, Daily Mail US, New York Post.
