City Of Seattle Agrees To Pay $3.5 Million Settlement In Wrongful-Death Lawsuit Of Pregnant Mother Of Four
Pregnant mother of four children, Charleena Lyles, was shot and killed in her home by police in 2017. The city of Seattle has reached a settlement in the amount of $3.5 million in the late mother’s wrongful-death lawsuit.
According to the Seattle Times, the settlement was reached Monday (Nov. 30), voiding the need for a trial in February 2022.
“For the family and especially for the children, it’s a restoration of dignity,” said Seattle attorney Karen Koehler. She continued that Lyles “did nothing that should’ve led to her death … she should not have received seven bullets.”
The children (two boys and two girls) now between ages 5-16 are being raised by their aunt, Merry Kilpatrick. The two youngest have special needs and Kilpatrick is in the process of adopting them.
On the morning of June 18, 2017, Lyles, 30, called 911 to report a burglary. She informed the operator that she had been out of the house and upon her return, the door was open with “stuff missing.” Video footage shows Lyles exiting and entering her apartment but doesn’t show anyone else going inside her home.
McNew and Anderson can be heard on the dashcam audio talking about previous interactions between Lyles and the police.
The interaction began calmly, as Lyles informed police of an open door and allegedly stolen Xbox. Audio of the incident then turned to a child crying and Lyles cursing at the officers. Police reported that there were three children in the apartment.
“We need help,” one officer says before saying there’s “a woman with two knives.” Both officers then say “get back” before shots are heard before the audio ends.
Lyles was documented for mental health issues that the officers were aware of before they shot her in the confines of her apartment kitchen. Seattle Times reports she had called Seattle police 23 times in the past 18 months before her death.
