Hostage mistaken for suspect, shot five times by police

Maverick Lyon, a 21-year-old college lacrosse player, is suing Albany police following a traumatic incident on January 6, 2026. Officers responded to his family home in North Albany, where his older brother, John 'Dakota' Lyon, was experiencing a narcotics relapse and holding Maverick hostage with a knife. Despite Maverick's attempts to signal officers for help through a window, he was Tasered and shot five times as he emerged from the house with his hands raised.

Dakota Lyon, who had recently been released from prison in November 2025, surrendered after the shooting. Maverick spent a month in the hospital recovering from severe injuries, including lung, appendix, and spleen removal, and required reconstructive surgery. The lawsuit alleges violations of his Fourth Amendment rights and claims officers failed to identify him as the hostage before using lethal force. Benton County prosecutors had previously ruled the officers' actions objectively reasonable given the split-second decisions required.