Inquest Into Charleena Lyles Shooting Ordered By King County

SEATTLE, WA — More than two years after her death, King County has ordered a formal inquest into the June 2017 Seattle police shooting of Charleena Lyles.

Lyles' inquiry was delayed when King County Executive Dow Constantine put all inquests on hold in January 2018 in order to revamp the process. At the end of May, inquests began again with a new staff including several retired King County judges who will oversee proceedings.

In an inquest, a six-member jury of citizens hears testimony about a police shooting, and determines if the officers acted within department policy.

Lyles, 30, died on June 18, 2017, after calling Seattle police to report a burglary. Officers Jason Anderson and Steve McNew responded to take the report. The officers said that Lyles advanced on them with a knife. Before shooting, the officers did consider using a Taser, but neither officer had one. She was three months pregnant at the time of her death.

Along with the Lyles shooting, Constantine has ordered inquests into the 2017 shootings of Damarius Butts by Seattle police, and Isaiah Obet by Auburn police. There are another six pending inquests dating back to summer 2017.

A date for the Lyles inquest has not been set yet.

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