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Oregon man sues after police shoot him while mistaking him for brother
Maverick Lyon, a 21-year-old college lacrosse player, was shot five times and Tased by police in Albany, Oregon, after officers allegedly mistook him for his older brother, who had been holding him hostage with a knife. Lyon says he had dropped the knife and was trying to show he was unarmed; he is suing two officers, the police department and a probation officer, alleging excessive force, battery and negligence.
The shooting happened on 6 January, a day after the brothers’ parents told officials that the older brother had relapsed into drug use. Lyon spent a month in hospital and had half of his right lung removed; he missed a semester and a lacrosse season, and still needs facial surgery. He has since returned to play, while the lawsuit argues the case shows the serious consequences of failing to distinguish a person in danger from a threat.
In short
- Maverick Lyon was shot five times after police allegedly mistook him for his brother.
- He says he had dropped the knife and was being held hostage.
- His lawsuit alleges excessive force, battery and negligence.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Lyon’s account, if supported by the evidence, makes a strong case that officers used excessive force against someone who had dropped the knife and was trying to show he was unarmed. The severe injuries and the reported warning about his brother’s relapse also raise questions about whether officials took reasonable steps to identify who posed the danger and protect the person being held hostage.
The case against
The officers may argue that they had to make rapid decisions in a volatile, potentially lethal encounter and could reasonably have perceived an immediate threat if Lyon was near a knife or did not appear to comply. The outcome alone does not establish that their actions were unreasonable; the lawsuit must be assessed against what officers knew and could see at the time.
Explained simply
Police officers in the United States can use force when they believe someone poses an immediate danger, but their actions may be challenged in court. A civil lawsuit can seek compensation and ask a court to decide whether officers or public bodies acted unlawfully.
The case involves two brothers in Albany, a city in Oregon. The older brother was reportedly holding the younger, Maverick Lyon, at knifepoint; Lyon’s account is that officers mistook him for his brother and shot him after he had dropped the knife.
The claims are disputed legal allegations, and the lawsuit names officers, the police department and a probation officer. Its outcome could help establish responsibility for the injuries and events described.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Dramatic moment man who managed to escape from his drug-addict knife-wielding brother is shot five times by cops: ‘You guys shot the wrong guy’”.