Roll of Honor
Incident
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.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-CADF81CD- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Marshal Lyons gave the Rayne Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rayne community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Marshal Americus Vespucius Lyons is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Rayne Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Americus Vespucius Lyons's cause is highlighted.
How Americus Vespucius Lyons Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Americus Vespucius Lyons is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Americus Vespucius Lyons was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Rayne Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
