A former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy pleaded no contest Friday to charges in connection with the 2019 shooting of a man in the parking lot of a Willowbrook apartment complex.
Andrew Lyons, 39, was originally charged with voluntary manslaughter. He pleaded no contest to a pair of lesser felony charges and was immediately sentenced to two years probation and 30 days in jail.
Lyons pleaded no contest to one felony count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and assault under the color of authority for the June 16, 2019, shooting of Ryan Twyman, 24. Lyons was taken into custody in court, as members of the victim's family and their supporters applauded, City News Service reported.
Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter.
The voluntary manslaughter charge against Lyons was dropped as part of a plea agreement. Lyons also will be permanent barred from owning a firearm.
Lyons had originally been charged with involuntary manslaughter and two felony counts of assault with an assault weapon. His attorneys, Michael Rains and Nicole Castronovo, issued a joint statement after the plea reiterating their contention that the case was a politically motivated attempted by District Attorney George Gascón to appear tough on law enforcement officers.
"From the outset, we have stated this is a case based in politics, not facts," they said. "The facts in this case demonstrate that Mr. Lyons did not kill Mr. Twyman. The dismissal of the voluntary manslaughter charge by the District Attorney's Office underscores this truth. Mr. Lyons has reluctantly agreed to accept a plea in this matter and to end his 15-year law enforcement career out of his belief that it is in the best interest of his family."
Gascón was at a midday news conference to discuss the case.
"Today, justice has been served for Mr. Twyman’s family who have spent years mourning the loss of their loved one,” Gascón said. "This verdict reflects my office's unwavering commitment to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their profession, is held accountable for their actions.
"I would like to commend the dedicated efforts of my office’s Justice System Integrity Division who worked tirelessly to prosecute this case. This conviction sends a strong message that no one is above the law. Our aim is not to undermine the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers who serve our communities. However, accountability is paramount to maintaining public trust and ensuring that the principles of justice are upheld."
The defense previously questioned whether the shots fired by Lyons caused his death, noting that two different deputies fired four fatal rounds at Twyman.
Lyons and another sheriff's deputy responded to an apartment complex in Willowbrook and approached a parked vehicle where Twyman was sitting, with both deputies opening fire after Twyman put the car in reverse, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
The car came to a stop nearby, and Lyons allegedly retrieved his semiautomatic assault rifle and shot into the vehicle after it stopped moving, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Twyman was struck by bullets in the neck and upper body and died at the scene.
A passenger in the vehicle was not struck by gunfire.
In an earlier statement posted on Facebook, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said the case had been fully investigated by the department and that then-Sheriff Alex Villanueva "initiated an administrative review of the case which resulted in Mr. Lyons being discharged from his position of deputy sheriff on November 8, 2021…
"Sheriff Villanueva remains committed to transparently holding our personnel accountable while providing for the safety and security of the communities we serve. Our condolences to Mr. Twyman's family for their loss," the department's Facebook post continued.
The other deputy was suspended for 30 days, Villanueva said.
In 2020, the county paid Twyman's family $3.9 million to resolve a federal lawsuit stemming from the shooting.
