Andrew Lyons: Ex sheriff's deputy gets 30 days for shooting unarmed man in 1st such conviction in 20 years

WILLBROOK, LOS ANGELES: A former Los Angeles Sheriff's deputy, involved in the fatal shooting of an unarmed 24-year-old man in his car in 2019, was sentenced to 30 days in jail on Friday. 

Andrew Lyons, one of two deputies who discharged a barrage of bullets at Ryan Twyman, a father of three, in a South Los Angeles parking lot, entered a plea of no contest to charges of assault with a firearm and assault under color of authority, as stated by the district attorney, George Gascon.

Lyons, who was initially charged with voluntary manslaughter for the on-duty shooting, pleaded no contest and was immediately sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years probation.

As part of the agreement, Lyons' officer certification has been revoked, rendering him ineligible to continue serving in law enforcement.

The District Attorney also stated that the two-year probation term is the maximum allowed by law. If Lyons violates probation, he could potentially face more than a decade in prison as per the guardian.com.

What happened to Ryan Twyman?

On June 6, 2019, two deputies from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) arrived at an apartment complex in Willowbrook, located in south LA, near Twyman’s residence in Compton.

Surveillance footage captured the deputies stepping out of their vehicle with guns drawn, targeting a parked car.

As the officers approached, the car reversed, prompting both deputies to open fire. They continued shooting from a distance as the vehicle seemed to roll away.

Although the car eventually came to a stop within the lot, Lyons was observed returning to his car in the footage. He opened his trunk, retrieved an assault rifle, and resumed firing at the motionless vehicle.

The video lacked sound, and the entire incident unfolded in less than a minute. The sheriff’s department reported that the two deputies discharged a total of 34 rounds, with Twyman in the driver’s seat.

Lyons was dismissed from the LASD following the shooting, while the second deputy did not face charges.

Who is Ryan Twyman?

Twyman, a father of three, left behind sons aged one, two, and three when he was tragically killed. Notably, he was one of four individuals fatally shot by officers in Los Angeles County on the same day.

Since his death, Twyman's family has been actively involved in the fight against police brutality, advocating for the removal of former district attorney Jackie Lacey due to her failure to prosecute officers.

They have also protested against the scandal-ridden former sheriff Alex Villanueva and voiced their opposition to the powerful police unions.

Members of Twyman's family are part of a collective of families who have lost loved ones to police violence and have reported harassment by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department after speaking out.

What did Ryan Twyman's mother claim?

Twyman's mother claimed during the press conference alongside Gascon, “Today is bittersweet. We all miss him very, very much. We miss his smile, his laugh. We miss him chasing dogs around the backyard. His three boys really, really miss him. I promised him we’d fight to the end and we did.”

Twyman's sister said, "It has been a such a long time – four and a half years – so at least my family can now mourn correctly and have some closure from the trauma … But my nephews, three young Black men, will never have a father. It’s horrible.”

She added, “There is some justice, but there is no accountability. He has never apologized to my family.”

Charges against Andrew Lyons

As officially reported by the District Attorney, the manslaughter charge against Lyons required evidence demonstrating that the defendant caused the death. Given that two officers fired shots, this presented a potential challenge.

Lyons became only the second officer to face criminal charges for an on-duty fatal shooting in Los Angeles County in over two decades. The other officer prosecuted was acquitted during the trial. 

Gascon, elected with a commitment to holding police accountable, has filed criminal charges against officers for on-duty assaults and perjury during his tenure. 

Lyons did not address the court during the hearing. His lawyers criticized the District Attorney, stating, "From the outset, we have stated this is a case based on politics, not facts." 

They mentioned that Lyons reluctantly agreed to accept a plea, concluding his 15-year law enforcement career, believing it was in the best interest of his family. 

They emphasized the inherent danger of being a first responder, further compounded by District Attorney George Gascon's injection of politics into public safety decision-making in Los Angeles County.