North Albany Man Whose Kidnapping Of Brother Led To Brother Being Shot By Police Sentenced To Prison (Photo) - 06/18/26
Today John Dakota Lyon plead guilty to Attempted Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Coercion. He was sentenced to a total of 77 months prison, and 2 years post prison supervision.
On January 6 of this year, Maverick Lyon, was home visiting his parents during winter break from college. Dakota, his brother, was living at the home, having recently been released from the Department of Corrections. In February 2023, Dakota was sentenced to 58 months prison for convictions of Attempted Assault in the First Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
On the morning of the 6th, Dakota accused Maverick of conspiring with their father to do harm to Dakota. Dakota armed himself with a large kitchen knife and while holding onto Maverick's shirt, pulled him throughout the house, implying he would harm Maverick with the knife. Despite Maverick’s pleadings, Dakota refused to release him or to put the knife down. Maverick convinced Dakota to allow Maverick to grab his own kitchen knife, under the guise they would leave the residence to confront their father together. The father saw and heard what was happening via a surveillance system he had set up at the home, and called 911 to report the crime.
Multiple Albany Police Department officers arrived at the scene. They were able to see two men through the back door window and could see that one of them had a knife. After a brief conversation between officers and the men, Maverick broke free of Dakota, and rushed out the back door. Unfortunately, Maverick still had a knife in his hand as he began to break the plane of the door. Officers were standing near the door. Maverick began dropping the knife, but officers, fearing for theirs and other officers’ lives, fired their weapons at Maverick. Maverick was struck several times. An earlier Officer Involve Shooting review by the Benton County District Attorney’s Office found that the officers’ use of force was justified.
Officers rendered first aid. While being treated, Maverick said “you shot the wrong guy.” Dakota was taken into custody without further incident, and the knife he was believed to have been possessing was located near him.
After undergoing surgery and a lengthy recovery period, Maverick appears to be doing well. Dakota has been in custody since January 6th. Methamphetamine may have played a role in the actions of John Dakota Lyon as a urine sample taken from him that day tested positive for methamphetamine. He was known to use methamphetamine in the past, and was believed by those close to him to have recently begun using methamphetamine again.
“The tragic shooting was a direct result of Dakota Lyon’s actions. As Dakota marched Maverick around the house at knife point, Maverick feared for his life and wanted nothing more but to escape his drug crazed older brother. But for Dakota’s actions, police would not have been called, Maverick would not be a victim of kidnapping, unlawful use of a weapon, and coercion, and the police would not have shot Maverick.
At sentencing, Christian Strahl, Dakota Lyon’s attorney, acknowledged Dakota’s responsibility in Maverick’s shooting. He indicated the remorse Dakota felt, saying Dakota wished he could have taken the bullets instead of Maverick. While this sentiment is appreciated, true accountability would be remorse in having raised a knife towards his brother and regret that the lives of Maverick and the family are forever changed,” Chief DDA Amie Matusko, who prosecuted the case.
