A York County man accused of killing another man during an altercation on Walnut Drive has pleaded guilty to lesser charges ahead of a two-day jury trial.
Ryan At’wan Lyon, 33, pleaded guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter, malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of malicious wounding in connection with the death of Carlos Lamont Lassiter, 40, of Williamsburg, Commonwealth’s Attorney Benjamin Hahn said.
Lyon was first charged with second-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, reckless handling of a firearm and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Prosecutors amended the charges to malicious wounding, involuntary manslaughter and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The reckless handling of a firearm charge was dropped during Lyon’s preliminary hearing on June 7, 2017.
“Involuntary manslaughter was the more appropriate crime for what the facs show,” Hahn said.
Lyon is scheduled for sentencing at 1 p.m. Oct. 4 in the York-Poquoson Circuit Court.
Police said Lyon shot Lassiter during a March 16 altercation on Walnut Drive in York County.
Lyon’s brother, Laphonso Cordero Lyon, 31, was also charged with two counts of accessory after the fact to aggravated malicious wounding and possession of a firearm by a convicted felony, but the charges were dropped after court appearances in June 2017 and February 2018.
During the June 2017 preliminary hearing, the mother of Lyon’s children, Lakisha Marsh, testified that the shooting happened at a cousin’s birthday party around 7 p.m.
Marsh and Lassiter were preparing to leave the party when Lassiter said “Babe, get our kids.”
Ryan Lyon grew upset and moved toward Lassiter, Marsh testified. Moments later, a fight broke out.
One of Marsh’s family members also testified, saying Lyon pulled a gun from his waistband and used it to strike Lassiter in the head twice. When he went to strike Lassiter a third time, the gun went off.
Lassiter was shot in the chest and had a cut on his head, Marsh said.
After the gun “popped,” Lyon began to panic, Marsh said, asking her cousins not to call the police. He handed his two guns to his brother, Laphonso, who took them to their car across the street.
The brothers then got in their car and drove off, Marsh said.
Lassiter underwent surgery and died from his injuries around 4 a.m. the following day.
Ryan Lyon turned himself in to the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office on March 17, the day after the shooting. Laphonso Lyon was arrested without incident in the 100 block of Walnut Drive.
WYDaily archives were used in this story.
Fearing can be reached at sarah.f@localvoicemedia.com.
