The family of a slain reporter has filed a lawsuit against his employer, Spectrum News 13, alleging that the company put reporter Dylan Lyons in harm’s way during a deadly shooting spree and failed to provide him with the necessary training for active shooter situations.
According to the lawsuit, Lyons and photojournalist Jesse Walden were assigned to cover the scene of a shooting in Orange County, Florida, where a suspect named Keith Moses, 21, was on the run after killing Nathacha Augustin, 38. Despite the danger, Spectrum News 13 had Lyons and Walden report on the crime while the shooter was still at large. The lawsuit claims that Moses later returned to ambush the reporters. In this attack, Lyons tragically lost his life, while Walden was critically injured but managed to survive.
Before attacking the journalists, Moses had entered a home, shooting and killing both a mother and her 9-year-old daughter, T’Yonna Major. The lawsuit highlights the dangers involved in the assignment and claims that Spectrum News 13 failed to take adequate safety measures for their reporters. In addition to the tragic loss of life, the case underscores the risks faced by journalists covering crime scenes without sufficient protection.
The lawsuit, filed by Lyons’ father, Gary Lyons, who is managing his son’s estate, alleges that Spectrum News 13, owned by Charter Communications, acted negligently by sending the reporters into a volatile and dangerous situation without proper safety protocols in place. It claims that while the network frequently requires reporters to travel to high-crime areas, it does not provide them with personal protection or security measures during such assignments.
The complaint accuses the company of gross negligence and asserts that Spectrum News 13 failed in its duty to ensure that its employees received adequate training for working in dangerous environments, particularly in situations involving active shooters. According to the lawsuit, the company had a non-delegable responsibility to provide recurring journalism safety training to all reporters and videographers, especially when covering live, high-risk events such as shootings.
In addition to the negligence claims, the lawsuit outlines the emotional distress and physical harm suffered by the victims, particularly Walden, who was left critically injured after the attack. The family’s legal team has promised to file another lawsuit next week against the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the same shooting spree, further investigating the law enforcement’s role in the incident.
Spectrum News 13, along with its parent company Charter Communications, has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit. Similarly, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has not provided a statement in response to the allegations. The lawsuit adds to the growing concern about the safety of journalists, who are often required to cover violent and unpredictable events without proper protection or preparation.
The ongoing legal battle also brings to light the broader issue of journalist safety, especially in cases where reporters are expected to cover dangerous events in real time. This lawsuit serves as a reminder of the risks faced by journalists who are often sent into harm’s way without the necessary precautions. It also raises important questions about the responsibility of media organizations to ensure the safety of their employees while they report on breaking news stories that may involve significant risks.
As the legal proceedings continue, the lawsuit represents a significant moment for the press and the public to reflect on the importance of protecting journalists and ensuring they have the proper resources, training, and security to safely carry out their work, especially when covering active crime scenes.
