💔 “You Shot the Wrong Guy”: College Athlete, 21, Shot Five Times by Oregon Police After Escaping Brother’s Knife Threat — Family Files Federal Lawsuit as Disturbing Video Emerges

He was supposed to be safe the moment police arrived. Instead, 21-year-old college athlete Maverick Lyon says he was shot five times while escaping from his older brother, who had been holding him hostage at knifepoint. His father had called 911 hoping officers would rescue him. But within seconds of Maverick stepping outside, the encounter ended in gunfire. Now, after weeks in the hospital and multiple major surgeries, the young athlete is taking legal action against the officers who were supposed to protect him.

ALBANY, OREGON — November 6, 2026 — A 21-year-old college lacrosse player has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against law enforcement officers after he was shot multiple times while fleeing a frightening hostage situation involving his older brother at the family home in North Albany, Oregon.

Maverick Lyon, a student-athlete at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, suffered life-threatening injuries during the January 6 encounter.

According to the lawsuit, officers responding to an emergency call mistakenly identified him as the armed aggressor after he escaped through a doorway.

Maverick alleges that he dropped a knife he had been carrying for self-defense and extended his empty hands before officers used a Taser and opened fire.

He was struck by at least five bullets.

Video footage released in connection with the case captured the injured student telling officers they had mistaken him for his brother.

“You guys shot the wrong guy. He was holding me hostage.”

The shooting left Maverick hospitalized for approximately four weeks.

Surgeons removed part of his right lung, his spleen and appendix and performed extensive surgery on his digestive system, according to his attorneys.

His injuries forced him to miss a semester of college and his senior lacrosse season.

Now, ten months after the incident, he is seeking damages and accountability through federal court.

However, the Benton County District Attorney previously concluded that the officers’ use of force was legally justified.

That determination is being challenged through the new civil lawsuit, which alleges excessive force, negligence and violations of Maverick’s constitutional rights.

A Family Emergency Begins Inside Their Oregon Home

The events began on January 6, when Maverick was visiting his family in North Albany during his college winter break.

His older brother, John “Dakota” Lyon, then 27, had been living in a separate area of the family property following his release from prison in November 2025.

According to court records and the lawsuit, Dakota had experienced problems involving substance use.

Family members had become concerned about his behavior shortly before the incident.

On the morning of January 6, the brothers were at the family home when Dakota reportedly became increasingly agitated.

The lawsuit states that he began making accusations against Maverick and their father.

The confrontation escalated when Dakota armed himself with a kitchen knife.

Maverick says his brother threatened him and prevented him from leaving.

What began as a family emergency had become a potentially life-threatening hostage situation.

Their father, David Lyon, was away from the residence.

Concerned after losing contact with his younger son, David checked the family’s security-camera footage remotely.

He saw the confrontation unfolding inside the home.

Realizing Maverick was in danger, he immediately called 911.

A Father Calls Police to Save His Son

At approximately 10:48 a.m., David contacted emergency dispatchers.

He explained that his older son was threatening Maverick with a knife.

According to the lawsuit, David also provided information intended to help responding officers distinguish between the two brothers.

Dakota was reportedly shirtless and wearing pajama pants.

Maverick was wearing a long-sleeved gray shirt.

Those clothing descriptions would later become central to the family’s lawsuit.

David believed that providing clear details would help officers identify the person threatening his son.

He expected police to arrive and bring the situation under control.

Instead, the family would soon confront another emergency.

In a statement released through their attorneys, David and his wife, Laura Lyon, expressed the shock they experienced.

“I have always believed that when you call 911, help is coming.”

The parents said they never imagined that asking for help would leave them uncertain whether their younger son would survive.

Maverick Tries to Escape His Brother

Inside the house, Maverick was searching for a way to protect himself.

According to his complaint, he initially tried to persuade Dakota to release him.

When that failed, he attempted to convince his brother that they were on the same side.

Maverick picked up a kitchen knife during the confrontation, which his attorneys say he intended to use only for self-defense.

Meanwhile, officers were arriving outside.

The lawsuit alleges that Maverick attempted to signal for help through a window.

He was frightened and desperate to escape.

As officers approached the house, the situation became increasingly chaotic.

The complaint states that responding officers did not adequately coordinate their movements or communicate information about the brothers’ identities.

Those alleged failures would later become important elements of Maverick’s legal case.

When an opportunity to escape appeared, he moved toward a door.

According to his lawyers, he dropped the knife before stepping outside.

He then emerged in a crouched position with his hands extended.

He believed the police would recognize that he was the person needing rescue.

But the situation took a devastating turn.

Police Open Fire Within Seconds

The encounter outside the home unfolded extremely quickly.

Security-camera footage captured officers positioned around the residence.

One officer deployed a Taser as Maverick came outside.

Two officers then fired their weapons.

Maverick was struck multiple times and fell to the ground.

His lawsuit alleges that officers continued firing even though he had already dropped the knife and was no longer presenting a threat.

The complaint also states that one officer continued shooting after Maverick had fallen.

The officers’ understanding of those moments is disputed.

In its earlier review, the Benton County District Attorney’s Office concluded that officers reasonably believed they were confronting a dangerous armed individual.

The prosecutor determined that they had only fractions of a second to make a decision.

That conclusion differs from Maverick’s account.

His attorneys argue that the officers had been given information identifying him as the hostage and should have recognized that he was not the person threatening the family.

These competing interpretations now form the central dispute in the federal lawsuit.

“You Guys Shot the Wrong Guy”

One of the most disturbing parts of the footage comes after Maverick is wounded.

As officers approach, the injured student can be heard trying to explain what happened.

He tells them they shot the wrong person.

He identifies his brother as the individual who had been holding him hostage.

The exchange captures the confusion surrounding the confrontation.

Maverick had escaped from someone who was threatening him.

But he had then been seriously injured by the officers responding to his family’s emergency call.

According to the lawsuit, he was handcuffed while bleeding on the ground.

Officers subsequently provided emergency medical assistance.

Maverick was transported to a hospital for treatment.

The injuries were extensive.

For his family, the emergency had changed from a hostage rescue into a desperate struggle to save their younger son’s life.

Four Weeks in the Hospital and Multiple Life-Changing Surgeries

Maverick’s injuries were far more serious than a typical sports injury or brief hospitalization.

According to his attorneys, bullets struck his chest, back and face.

Surgeons performed several major operations to repair the damage.

The procedures included removing half of his right lung, his spleen and his appendix.

Doctors also carried out extensive reconstructive surgery involving his digestive system.

Maverick remained hospitalized for approximately four weeks.

His family faced an agonizing period of uncertainty as he underwent treatment.

After returning home, he continued requiring care while recovering from the operations.

The injuries dramatically changed his daily life.

Before January 6, Maverick had been an active college athlete.

He trained, competed and attended classes at Saint Anselm College.

After the shooting, those activities became difficult or impossible.

He missed the spring semester.

He also lost the opportunity to participate in his senior lacrosse season.

His attorneys say he continues to face medical challenges, including the possibility of additional reconstructive procedures for facial injuries.

A Promising Lacrosse Career Interrupted

At the time of the shooting, Maverick was a college lacrosse player at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire.

The sport had been an important part of his life.

Competing at the college level requires years of training, discipline and teamwork.

Maverick had dedicated substantial time to developing his abilities.

But the shooting abruptly interrupted his academic and athletic future.

His recovery required months of medical treatment.

He was unable to complete the spring semester as planned.

He also missed an entire lacrosse season.

Despite those challenges, he has since returned to playing.

The achievement represents an important step in his recovery.

However, returning to the field does not mean every consequence of the shooting has disappeared.

His attorneys say he continues dealing with the physical effects of his injuries.

The long-term impact on his health and athletic career remains uncertain.

Older Brother Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison

The criminal case against Maverick’s older brother has already reached a conclusion.

John “Dakota” Lyon pleaded guilty to offenses connected to the January 6 hostage incident.

Those offenses included attempted second-degree kidnapping, unlawful use of a weapon and coercion.

He was sentenced to 77 months in prison, equivalent to six years and five months.

The conviction confirmed that Dakota had committed criminal acts against his younger brother.

During the proceedings, his attorney described Dakota as remorseful over the events.

According to local reporting, Dakota expressed that he wished he could have suffered the injuries instead of Maverick.

His sentencing resolved the criminal case arising from his actions.

But it did not resolve the separate questions surrounding the police shooting.

Those questions are now central to Maverick’s federal civil rights lawsuit. <Cite refs={[“turn827496search3″,”turn746408search5”]}/>

District Attorney Previously Ruled the Shooting Justified

In March 2026, Benton County District Attorney Ryan Joslin announced that the officers’ use of deadly force was legally justified.

The conclusion followed an independent investigation by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

Prosecutors reviewed video evidence, witness statements and the circumstances surrounding the officers’ decisions.

Joslin acknowledged that Maverick was an innocent person attempting to escape a dangerous situation.

However, he concluded that the responding officers reasonably believed deadly force was necessary to protect themselves or others.

According to the district attorney, officers had only fractions of a second to respond to what they perceived as an immediate threat.

The legal review focused on what officers could reasonably have understood at the precise moment they fired.

The district attorney determined that criminal charges against the officers were not warranted.

That decision remains an important part of the case.

But it does not automatically resolve Maverick’s civil claims.

Criminal investigations and civil lawsuits involve different legal questions and standards.

The federal court will now consider whether the officers’ conduct violated Maverick’s constitutional rights. <Cite ref=”turn827496search0″/>

The Lawsuit Challenges Police Communication and Decision-Making

Maverick’s lawsuit names the City of Albany and officers involved in the shooting.

It also includes claims involving Benton County and a county probation officer.

The complaint alleges excessive force, negligence, battery and violations of Maverick’s Fourth Amendment rights.

His attorneys argue that the responding officers failed to communicate effectively.

They also contend that police did not adequately use the identifying information David Lyon provided during his emergency call.

The lawsuit emphasizes the difference in the brothers’ clothing.

According to the family, officers knew the person threatening Maverick was shirtless.

They also knew the hostage was wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt.

Maverick’s attorneys believe those details should have helped prevent the mistaken identification.

The complaint further alleges that officers used force after Maverick had dropped the knife he carried for protection.

The defendants will have the opportunity to contest those allegations.

No civil court has yet determined whether the officers or government agencies are legally liable.

“We Want Answers, Accountability and Changes”

Maverick’s parents have publicly supported his lawsuit.

David and Laura Lyon say they want a thorough examination of what happened.

Their concerns extend beyond financial compensation.

They want to understand how an emergency call intended to protect their son ended with police shooting him.

They also want changes that could prevent another family from experiencing a similar tragedy.

In their statement, the parents emphasized that they cannot reverse what happened.

Their immediate hope is that Maverick will have the opportunity to continue recovering and build the future he deserves.

Attorney Alicia LeDuc Montgomery has similarly argued that the case raises serious questions about police communication, decision-making and the use of force.

She believes those questions should be examined by a federal court and jury.

For the Lyon family, the lawsuit represents an attempt to obtain answers after months of medical treatment and uncertainty.

A Case That Raises Difficult Questions About Police Responses

The shooting has attracted national attention because Maverick was the person his father had asked police to rescue.

The situation was complicated.

Officers were responding to an armed confrontation inside a residence.

Two brothers had access to knives.

The encounter outside the home unfolded rapidly.

Those circumstances are central to the district attorney’s conclusion that the officers’ actions were legally justified.

But Maverick’s attorneys argue that the police response was avoidably dangerous.

They maintain that officers had information identifying the hostage and failed to act on it effectively.

The dispute raises questions about how law enforcement agencies prepare for hostage situations.

It also highlights the importance of communicating information between responding officers.

When officers arrive at a rapidly developing emergency, even brief confusion can have serious consequences.

The federal lawsuit will examine whether the actions taken during this particular response met constitutional and professional standards.

Ten Months Later, the Family Is Still Seeking Answers

On January 6, David Lyon contacted 911 because he feared for his younger son’s safety.

Maverick was being threatened by his older brother.

He needed help escaping.

His father believed officers would arrive and protect him.

Instead, Maverick was shot multiple times.

He spent weeks in the hospital.

He underwent major surgery.

And his education and athletic career were interrupted.

Dakota has since been convicted and sentenced for his actions.

Prosecutors have also determined that the police shooting was legally justified under Oregon criminal law.

But Maverick and his family disagree with that assessment of the officers’ conduct.

Their federal lawsuit now seeks an independent examination of the police response.

Maverick Lyon was only 21 when he escaped a dangerous confrontation with his brother and encountered the officers his father had called for help. Seconds later, he was fighting for his life.

Today, he is working toward recovery and has returned to lacrosse.

But the physical and emotional consequences of the shooting remain part of his life.

For his parents, the central question has not changed.

How did a call to save their son end with him being shot?

The district attorney has ruled that officers acted legally. Maverick’s family says the response was dangerously mishandled. Now, a federal court may be asked to determine whether his constitutional rights were violated.

For Maverick, the case is about more than the terrifying moments captured on video.

It is about the months of treatment, the opportunities he lost and his efforts to reclaim a future that nearly ended outside his family’s home.