Oregon Student Sues Police After Officers Shoot Him Five Times

An Oregon college lacrosse player has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against police officers and local authorities, alleging excessive force after officers shot him at least five times while responding to a domestic hostage incident at his parents' home in Albany on January 6.

Maverick Lyon survived the shooting but suffered severe injuries that required four weeks of hospitalization and multiple major operations, according to the lawsuit filed Wednesday. The complaint names Benton County and the city of Albany as defendants.

Attorneys representing Lyon said surgeons removed half of his right lung, his spleen, and his appendix. He also underwent extensive reconstructive surgery involving his digestive system.

According to the lawsuit, the confrontation began after Lyon's older brother, Dakota Lyon, relapsed into drug use and became dangerous toward family members. Their parents, David and Laura Lyon, had contacted a Benton County probation officer on January 5 to report his behavior.

The parents told the probation officer that Dakota was "acting dangerously toward family members" and asked the county to take him into custody, but officials declined, according to the complaint.

The following day, the situation escalated inside the family home. The lawsuit describes how David Lyon contacted emergency services after his older son allegedly held Maverick hostage with a knife.

"The next day, David called 911 after Dakota's drug-induced behavior escalated to taking their youngest son, Maverick Lyon, hostage at knifepoint inside the home," the lawsuit states.

Maverick reportedly grabbed another knife to defend himself before escaping through the back door. Albany police surrounded the property and could see both brothers through a window, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit alleges that Maverick mouthed "help me" to officers while they watched the situation unfold. It also claims officers knew Dakota and understood that Maverick was the victim.

Officers instructed Maverick to leave the house and drop the knife. According to the complaint, he complied before officers opened fire.

"When Maverick did as instructed, Albany Police officers shot Maverick at least five times in the chest, back, and face after he had dropped the knife, came outside, and presented no threat," the lawsuit states.

The complaint further alleges that officers initially prioritized restraining the injured student rather than providing medical treatment.

"Yelled at Maverick to roll over and submit to handcuffing while Maverick was on the ground bleeding," the lawsuit alleges, describing the officers' actions after the shooting.

The Albany Police Department previously acknowledged that two officers fired their weapons after responding to a domestic disturbance involving an individual carrying a knife. The department said officers provided immediate medical assistance.

In its statement, the department said officers "immediately rendered medical aid until emergency personnel arrived."

Dakota Lyon was subsequently sentenced to more than six years in prison for the incident involving his brother. According to KVAL-TV of Eugene, he accepted responsibility, while his attorney said Dakota wished he had taken the bullets instead of Maverick.

David and Laura Lyon expressed support for their youngest son's legal action and described the emotional impact of the shooting.

"I have always believed that when you call 911, help is coming. I never imagined that making that call would leave me wondering if my son was going to survive," the parents said in a statement.

They also described their decision to contact authorities and the consequences of the police response.

"Our family has been through something no family should ever have to experience. I called the police that day because I wanted to protect Maverick, and instead, the very people I called for help ended up nearly taking his life," they said.

Benton County declined to comment on the pending litigation in response to an NBC News inquiry. The city of Albany did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of excessive force, battery, negligence, and violating Maverick Lyon's rights under the Fourth Amendment. It requests a jury trial and financial damages.

Benton County District Attorney Ryan S. Joslin had previously determined that the shooting was justified following an investigation into the incident.

Joslin defended the officers' actions, explaining that investigators assessed the circumstances and the information available to police when they made their decisions.

He concluded that the officers' decision to "fire their duty weapons in this case was based on an objectively reasonable belief that to do so was necessary in order to protect their own lives or the lives of fellow officers," according to his previous statement.

Joslin also emphasized that the assessment considered the rapidly developing circumstances officers faced at the scene.

He said the decision "must be made in light of what the officers knew and perceived leading up to and at the exact time their decision was made. In this case, the officers, in real time, had only fractions of a second to decide how to act."

The district attorney's office did not immediately respond to a request for further comment. David and Laura Lyon said they want accountability and changes to prevent similar incidents.

"We cannot change what happened that day, but we want answers, accountability, and changes that help prevent another family from experiencing the pain ours has. Most importantly, we want Maverick to have every opportunity to heal, move forward, and live the life he deserves," the parents said.