Toxicology report shows Lyons had PCP in system
Published 3:06 pm Thursday, March 14, 2019
By Chris Moore
chris.moore@panews.com
A toxicology and autopsy report indicates that phencyclidine (PCP) was in Shayne Lyons system at the time he was shot by a Port Arthur police officer Dec. 28.
John Ralston performed the autopsy on Jan. 2. The report showed Lyons had 350 nanograms per milliliter.
Late last year, officer Aaron Taylor was on patrol in the 1600 block of Kansas Avenue when he saw vehicles going around Lyons, who was walking in the street. As Taylor approached, he saw Lyons was carrying a machete. Dash and body cam footage shows Taylor exited his vehicle with weapon raised and gave multiple commands to Lyons to drop the weapon.
Lyons began to walk towards Taylor despite his commands. The video shows Lyons walked slowly towards Taylor tapping and twirling the blade on his hand. When Lyons got within about 15 feet of Taylor, the officer shot eight times, all hitting Lyons causing his death according to the autopsy report.
The following week, District Attorney Bob Wortham said investigators found cigarettes laced with PCP on Lyons, but it was unclear at the time if Lyons had any in his system. A Jefferson County grand jury cleared Taylor of any wrong doing.
The toxicology report also found traces of cotinine, which is common in tobacco.
According to the toxicology report, ataxia, agitation, combativeness, seizures spasticity, coma and respiratory depression in PCP concentrations ranging between 90-220 nanograms per milliliter.
The report said PCP-related fatalities have been reported to range from 300-25,000 nanograms per milliliter with the average being 5,000 nanograms per milliliter.