Tributes are pouring in remembering Dylan Lyons, 24, a former Knight News Sports Editor and reporter, who was shot and killed while covering a murder scene in Orange County’s Pine Hills neighborhood for Spectrum News 13.
Knight News readers may remember Lyons for his coverage of the UCF Fiesta Bowl in 2019.
He won a friendly contest among Knight News journalists for asking the best question at the press conference.
Here’s Dylan Lyons doing what he loved – covering the news back when UCF played in the 2019 @Fiesta_Bowl. https://t.co/26xULiYTdZ
— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) February 23, 2023
Eddie Messel, who covered the Fiesta Bowl for Knight News with Lyons, shared his memories on Twitter.
Hard to believe this was 4 years ago.
— Eddie Messel (@EddieMesselTV) February 23, 2023
Just some college journalists doing what we loved. It’s been a while since the two of us spoke but one thing is for sure, Dylan loved journalism and everything about being a journalist.
My prayers are with his family and the @MyNews13 team pic.twitter.com/TZj47qKvHN
Messel remembered how eager Lyons was, right from the start of the trip.
I remember being nervous not really wanting to do this video with all the people on the plane and Dylan had no problem doing it. Was always camera ready https://t.co/s05rA8wH3N
— Eddie Messel (@EddieMesselTV) February 23, 2023
Megan Turner, another former Knight News journalist, worked with Lyons as part of UCF’s separate journalism program’s publications.
if you knew Dylan, you knew he embodied journalism. Integrity. Passion. Ethics. Speed. He meant so much to so many people.
— Megan Turner (@megnturner_) February 23, 2023
I was his editor at UCF. He inspired me & always rooted for those around him — pray for his loved ones & colleagues.https://t.co/0w7pU9xWHL
Turner has raised awareness for a Go Fund Me page set up by Lyons’ sister, which was shared by his fiancée overnight, to help his family with expenses. So far more than $15,000 was raised of the $25,000 goal.
Lyons interned at multiple stations in Orlando and then worked at WCJB in Gainesville before landing a job in the Orlando TV market at Spectrum News 13.
Many journalists shared their memories of Lyons on social media.
Knight News sends its deepest condolences to Dylan’s loved ones.
He was truly dedicated to journalism.
