College Student Escapes Brother’s Hostage Attack, Then Police Shoot Him Five Times in His Own Driveway

A 21-year-old college student who escaped being held at knifepoint by his older brother was shot at least five times by police officers as he emerged from his family home in Oregon. Now, after months of recovery, he is taking legal action against the officers and authorities, claiming the people who were supposed to rescue him instead left him fighting for his life.

Maverick Lyon was visiting his family in North Albany, Oregon, during his winter break from Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire when the terrifying incident unfolded on January 6, 2026.

According to a federal lawsuit filed on his behalf, his older brother, John “Dakota” Lyon, 27, had been struggling with drug use and increasingly erratic behavior. Their parents had reportedly warned Benton County officials about his relapse and behavior the day before the śh́óóting.

The following morning, Dakota allegedly became increasingly agitated during a phone conversation with their father. He then grabbed a large kitchen knife, seized Maverick and declared him a hostage.

Their father was away from home but watched the confrontation through the family’s security camera system. He called 911 and provided dispatchers with descriptions of both brothers: Dakota was shirtless and wearing pajama pants, while Maverick wore a long-sleeved gray shirt.

When Albany police officers arrived, Maverick was still trapped inside the house. The lawsuit alleges that he repeatedly mouthed “Help me!” through a window, but officers failed to recognize that he was the hostage.

Maverick eventually managed to escape through the back door. According to his attorneys, he dropped the knife he had been carrying before coming outside with his hands extended.

But officers Matt Thomas and Engle Diaz opened fire, striking him at least five times, according to the complaint. The lawsuit further alleges that one officer continued śh́óóting after Maverick had fallen to the ground.

In footage cited by the legal team, Maverick can be heard telling officers: “You guys got the wrong guy. He was holding me hostage.”

He was rushed to hospital and underwent an emergency operation lasting approximately eight hours. His injuries required multiple surgeries, including the removal of half of his right lung, his spleen and appendix, as well as extensive reconstruction surgery on his digestive system.

Maverick spent four weeks in hospital and missed a semester of college and his senior lacrosse season. He has since returned to playing, but his attorney says he still needs additional orthopedic and plastic surgery to address facial injuries.

The lawsuit, filed on November 2, names the City of Albany, the two officers, Benton County and county probation officer Joshua Hall. It alleges excessive force, negligence and failures in communication and coordination during the police response.

However, authorities had previously reached a different conclusion about the śh́óóting.

In March, the Benton County District Attorney’s Office determined that the officers were legally justified in using diᩚadℓy force. The district attorney said the officers had only fractions of a second to assess the situation and could not have known that Maverick had dropped the knife as he crossed the doorway.

The office acknowledged that Maverick was the victim of his brother’s actions and described the outcome as an “absolute tᩚraɢedy.”

Dakota Lyon later pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted kidnapping, unlawful use of a w𝔢𝔞𝔭𝔬η and coercion. He was sentenced in June to 77 months in prison, followed by two years of post-prison supervision.

Maverick’s lawsuit now seeks accountability for the injuries he suffered and raises serious questions about how officers responded to a hostage emergency in which the victim was trying to escape.

For his family, the case is about more than the śh́óóting itself. They say they want answers and changes to prevent another family from experiencing the same nightmare.

Source: DAILYMAIL