2025-08-22
Court boots appeal for man convicted of trying to kill Amarillo police officer
AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - A higher court dismissed the appeal of a man convicted of attempted capital murder.
The appeal and dismissal come after the defendant accepted a plea bargain for 50 years in prison.
In August 2023, an Amarillo motorcycle officer conducted a traffic stop and learned that the driver, later identified as 36-year-old Lyle Lavern Youngs, had a warrant.
The officer tried to arrest suspect, who fought back and then ran down an alley near Southwestern 34th Avenue and South Western Street.
Video obtained by NewsChannel 10 shows the chase. The officer tackled the suspect and brought him down to the ground.
VIDEO
While the two men struggled with each other on the ground, the video shows the suspect reaching for the officer’s handgun.
A bystander, Chris Copeland, jumped in to help the officer with the suspect. The suspect reached for the gun again and at some point, a shot was fired.
The officer was grazed by a bullet but continued to hold Youngs down until back up arrived.
Youngs was booked into the Randall County Detention Center for attempted capital murder of a peace officer, attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer, possession of controlled substance, resisting arrest, evading arrest, false ID, possession of drug paraphernalia and other charges.
Lyle Lavern Youngs booking photo on Aug. 4, 2023(Randall County Sheriff's Office)
He remained in custody until he appeared in 251st District Court to plead guilty in exchange for 50 years in prison.
As part of the plea bargain, per court records, he was convicted on the charge of attempted capital murder of a peace officer and possession of a controlled substance and the remaining charges were dismissed.
In Texas, if a defendant takes a plea bargain, they do not have the right to appeal the conviction.
Nevertheless, Youngs filed a notice of appeal with the 7th Court of Appeals on July 24, challenging his conviction.
Youngs filed the appeal himself (pro se), rather through an attorney.
The Court advised Youngs of his waiver of the right to appeal and asked him to explain why his appeal should be heard.
Court records show that “[Appellant] has not filed a response or had any further communication with the Court to date.”
Note:
The bystander who intervened and potentially saved the officer’s life, Chris Copeland, was shot and killed July 8 near the same spot.
Copeland’s neighbor, Lawrence Scott Johnston, was arrested and charged for Copeland’s death.
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