Marshal Americus Vespucius Lyons

Americus Vespucius Lyons

Marshal Americas Lyons was shot and killed by a subject seeking revenge after having been arrested and fined $5 for disturbing the peace earlier in the day.

The man swore to get even with Marshal Lyons and the town's mayor, who levied the fine. Later that same evening the man appeared at a party that Marshal Lyons was attending and demanded that the host give him $5. Hearing the commotion, Marshal Lyons came to the front of the house where he was fatally shot in the abdomen by the man.

The subject was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. Several days before the scheduled execution the governor commuted the man's sentence to life in prison. He died while serving his sentence at Angola State Penitentiary.

Marshal Lyons had served with the Rayne Police Department for three years and also held a commission as an Acadia Parish sheriff's deputy. He was survived by his wife and two children.