Charleena Lyles' Family Files Wrongful Death Claim Against Seattle

SEATTLE, WA - The family of Charleena Lyles, the mother of four shot and killed by two Seattle police officers on June 18, filed a wrongful death claim Friday morning against the city of Seattle. The claim is the first step toward suing the city over Lyles' death. Attorneys for the Lyles family have not said in documents how much they are seeking in damages.

"This is not about a dollar, it's about the loss of a woman, a mother, a daughter, a sister, and injury to her children," attorney Karen Koehler said during a press conference Friday.

Lyles called police on June 18 to request help because she suspected someone had burglarized her apartment. Two Seattle police officers - Jason Andersen and Steve McNew - arrived to take the report. According to audio released by Seattle police, the situation inside the apartment suddenly escalated, and the officers opened fire. Police have said that Lyles advanced toward them with a knife; neither officer had a Taser.

In the claim, the Lyles' attorneys highlight that the Seattle police department has entered into a consent-degree with the Justice Department over use-of-force issues, in particular against mentally ill people. Before June 18, Lyles had a previous encounter with officers where she allegedly held them at knife point while making outlandish claims, like that her children were werewolves. McNew and Andersen were aware of that previous incident.

"Since when is it OK for police to ignore mental health crisis an de-escalation procedures when responding to a call for help from a pregnant black woman with well known mental health issues, so that they end up shooting and killer her in front of her children?" the attorneys ask rhetorically in the claim.

The claim also details numerous interactions between Lyles and police in the months leading up to her death. Police were called in 2017 for 14 domestic assaults or disturbances; three burglaries; two reports of child neglect; one welfare check; one missing child; and one follow-up visit from a previous welfare check.

During the Friday press conference, the Lyles family attorneys did not provide medical records about Lyles' mental state. Koehler, however, suggested that police should've been prepared to deal with someone in her condition.

Lyles' father, Charles, appeared at Friday's press conference, re-telling about the Sunday morning - Father's Day - call he got from his other daughter bearing the news of Charleena's death.

"It still feels like a dream," he said.

If the city does not answer the claim in 60 days, the family's attorneys will bring a formal lawsuit.

Image Neal McNamara/Patch.com