Amarillo, TX – On August 4, 2023, APD Motors Officer Cpl. Steven Kennedy was shot while attempting to apprehend a fleeing suspect, Lyle Lavern Youngs, age 38, following a traffic stop. During a brief foot pursuit, Youngs attempted to take Cpl. Kennedy’s firearm during an arrest and shot him once. A citizen who witnessed the struggle intervened and helped take Youngs into custody.
On June 24, 2025, Youngs pled guilty in the 251st District Court in Randall County to:
Attempted Capital Murder of a Peace Officer
Possession of a Controlled Substance PG1 (1g < 4g)
Youngs was sentenced to 50 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the attempted capital murder charge. Due to the deadly weapon finding, he must serve at least 25 years before becoming eligible for parole. He also received a 10-year sentence for the possession charge. Both sentences will run concurrently.
The Amarillo Police Department commends the Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit for their thorough and professional work in this case. Their efforts in investigation, evidence collection, and case preparation were critical to achieving this outcome.
