Deputy Sentenced to 30 Days in Jail for Shooting Unarmed Black Man in New Judgment

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy Andrew Lyons has been sentenced to 30 days in jail followed by two years of probation for the 2019 shooting death of Ryan Twyman, an unarmed Black man. This decision follows Lyons pleading no contest to one count of felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm and felony assault under the color of authority. The case had drawn national attention and raised questions about the use of force by law enforcement officers. Lyons, 39, initially faced a charge of voluntary manslaughter of Twyman, 24, as another deputy had also shot at him, making it unclear who fired the fatal shot. Deputy District Attorney Kristopher Gay confirmed that both officers fired fatal shots at Twyman.

Twyman and a passenger were in a sedan driven by Twyman that was stopped in the parking area of an apartment complex in Willowbrook, Calif., on June 6, 2019. Lyons and the other sheriff’s deputy responded to a call to enforce a warrant for Twyman’s arrest for an alleged weapons violation. When Lyons and the other deputy arrived, Twyman put the car in reverse and the deputies fired at him. After the vehicle stopped moving, Lyons retrieved a semiautomatic rifle and again shot at Twyman. His passenger was unhurt despite a total of 34 shots fired by the police officers.

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department investigated the matter and fired Lyons in 2021, with charges being filed against him in March 2022. Twyman’s family filed a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which was settled for $3.9 million in 2020. Lyons’ attorneys argued that the case against him was politically motivated. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said, “Today, justice has been served for Mr. Twyman’s family who have spent years mourning the loss of their loved one. This verdict reflects my office’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their profession, is held accountable for their actions.”

This case has reignited conversations about the use of force by law enforcement officers and the accountability of those in positions of power. The 30-day jail sentence for Lyons has sparked debate and calls for more stringent consequences for law enforcement officers involved in similar incidents in the future. Following the sentencing, Twyman’s family has expressed some sense of closure, but the impact of this tragic event continues to reverberate through the community.