The man believed to have shot and killed three members of his household in central Illinois – together with his former faculty roommate – earlier than threatening far-right streamer Nick Fuentes at his Berwyn dwelling final month had grow to be ” depressed” and “distant” within the weeks main as much as the homicide. the assault, newly launched police paperwork present.
John Lyons, 24, of Westchester, was fatally shot by a Berwyn police officer Dec. 18 after a foot chase. Hours earlier, earlier than driving almost 150 miles to Fuentes’ dwelling, Lyons allegedly shot and killed 23-year-old Caleb Mason, his former faculty roommate, in Mahomet, a small village about 11 miles northwest of Champaign , the paperwork say.
In the taking pictures, he’s additionally suspected of killing Mason’s sister and mom, Sara Mason, 26, and Janis Mason, 61, authorities stated. Why Lyons went to Berwyn after the time of the taking pictures, or why he allegedly went to Fuentes’ residence, just isn’t detailed in police information.
Late final yr, Fuentes’ speech was extensively leaked in response to his “Your physique. My selection. Forever” he commented after the presidential elections. Illinois State Police stated in a press release Friday that the investigation into the crash is “open and ongoing.”
Lyon ‘indignant’ and ‘belligerent’ in the direction of officers
In the weeks earlier than the taking pictures, Lyons’ mother and father advised police that their son had grow to be “depressed” and “distant,” and had moved again in with them and stop his job, in line with a Berwyn police report. They stated he struggled after his roommate Caleb allegedly beat him in 2022 and that he sued after legal expenses had been dismissed.
Lyons’ mother and father additionally advised police that their son was “indignant” and “belligerent” towards officers who contacted him after he was allegedly concerned in a hit-and-run in Proviso Township in September. Court information present he was scheduled to look in Cook County Court in Bridgeview on Dec. 19 in that case.
On the evening of the taking pictures, Lyons’ mother and father stated they had been out at a celebration however suspected one thing was improper with their son, in line with Berwyn police information. They advised police their final contact with Lyons occurred round 11:25 p.m. Records present they occurred minutes earlier than he allegedly confirmed up at Fuentes’ dwelling and after the time of the deadly taking pictures.
They stated he lied about his whereabouts and did not return dwelling when he stated he would. When he did not return their calls after just a few hours, they reported him lacking to the Westchester Police Department, the paperwork say. They advised police they had been unaware of any connection Lyons might have needed to Berwyn.
Lyons exhibits up on the Mason household’s home
Lyons allegedly first confirmed up on the Mason dwelling within the 1100 block of Riverside Drive on Dec. 18 round 6:30 p.m., asking for Caleb, in line with Mahomet police information.
A good friend who lived with the Mason household stated he advised Lyons that Caleb wasn’t dwelling, however he discovered the interplay “odd” and messaged Caleb’s sister on Discord, in line with the information.
Sara arrived dwelling simply earlier than 9 p.m., and Lyons allegedly waited outdoors sporting a bike helmet, in line with the lady who gave Sara a trip dwelling, Mahomet police confirmed. He stated he heard Sara say “he isn’t at dwelling, he is at work.”
“I’m making an attempt to not get scared, suburban white girl, in regards to the man ready outdoors my home for… Now what? I need to speak to my brother whereas sporting a bike helmet (driving within the automotive),” Sara wrote on her X account.
“He likes the left however will most likely come again. Anyway,” he added.
At 9:08 p.m. Lyons knocked on the entrance door once more, information present. This time he spoke to Janis, referring to himself as “Jack” when she requested him about Caleb, police stated. The good friend who lived with the household once more messaged Sara on Discord, saying, “I feel the man is again and your mother is speaking to him,” police information present.
After Lyons left, Janis advised the good friend that the household “does not like” Lyons due to the pending lawsuit, in line with police.
The good friend then returned to the basement to play “Borderlands 3” on his laptop computer. About half-hour later, he heard what gave the impression of gunshots and went upstairs. He discovered Sara mendacity within the storage doorway, Caleb within the driver’s seat of a car and Janis mendacity within the driveway, all affected by gunshot wounds, information confirmed. He then known as 911.
After authorities arrived, Sara was pronounced useless on the scene. Janis and Caleb had been transported to a close-by hospital the place they had been pronounced useless.
Lyon travels almost 150 miles to Berwyn
That similar evening, Lyons drove almost 150 miles to Berwyn, exhibiting up with a gun close to the entrance door of an condo constructing, in line with a Berwyn police report. The resident then known as 911, reporting somebody with a backpack.
The caller’s identify was redacted from police information, however Fuentes posted on his X account {that a} man approached his door carrying what gave the impression to be a handgun and crossbow whereas he was livestreaming. Wearing a bike helmet, the person yells “Yo, Nick” in surveillance footage launched by Fuentes. Police entered this footage into proof, paperwork present.
“Now I’m going to need to uproot my life and transfer,” Fuentes stated. “While I can deal with no matter involves my entrance door, it’s irresponsible to count on my neighbors with younger households to share this burden.”
Fuentes, a provocative on-line creator identified for his racist and anti-Semitic feedback, stated he was harassed at his dwelling when his deal with was leaked after he made the message “Your physique. My selection. Forever” statements about X after Donald Trump gained the presidential election. He was later charged with battery for allegedly pepper-spraying a lady who confirmed up on the deal with in November.
When officers responded to the scene on Dec. 18, Lyons allegedly fled on foot, the police report says. The officers retraced his route and inside they discovered a backpack with ammunition, a crossbow pistol, liquid accelerants and identification paperwork.
Meanwhile, Lyons allegedly entered one other dwelling by an open basement door. When the resident went to the basement to research “suspicious noises,” he discovered Lyons, who then fired pictures at him, the report says. The pictures hit two canines, which later died. The sufferer ran upstairs to flee and held the door closed so Lyons could not get to the second flooring, the report says.
Police stated Lyons then left the home and bumped into a close-by yard. According to the report, he fired at officers who had gathered within the alley, hitting the window of a police automotive. Several officers returned hearth, killing him, in line with the report. No officers had been injured.
