Here we go again.
Once again, white police officers shot and killed another mentally ill Black individual–right in front of her two boys and a girl, ages 11, 4, and 1.
Charleena Lyles, 30, a pregnant mother of three, called Seattle, Washington, police around 10 a.m. Sunday to report a burglary at her apartment in Brettler Family Place, a housing complex for those transitioning from homelessness.
Two officers were dispatched because of a June 5 arrest report in which Lyles is described as talking about wanting to “morph into a wolf,” accused officers of being devils and members of the Ku Klux Klan, and threatened them with scissors.
According to a transcript of audio footage released Monday, two officers discussed the June 5 incident prior to reporting to Lyles’s apartment.
At the scene, Lyles apparently conversed with officers about what was apparently stolen. After a four-second delay, Lyles is heard saying, “You ready?” She then calls the officers an expletive, followed by officers saying, “We need help,” and ordering someone several times to “get back.”
This entire encounter lasted sixteen seconds before officers opened fire.
At least one child is heard crying in the background.
Lyles’s family members arrived about two hours later with questions about why police decided to shoot Lyles instead of Tasing her.
Lyles’s sister, Monika Williams, said:
“Why couldn’t they have Tased her? They could have taken her down. I could have taken her down.”
According to the audio, one officer told his partner to “Tase her.” His partner responded:
“I don’t have a Taser.”
Seattle officers are given the option to carry Tasers, pepper spray, or batons as alternatives to discharging their firearms. Police sources say the officers who responded to Lyles’s call Sunday did not carry Tasers, but had unspecified “less than lethal” weapons.
As part of a federal consent decree, the Seattle Police Department emphasizes “Crisis Intervention” Training (CIT), delineating techniques for de-escalating tension when encountering people with mental illness or other cognitive considerations.
Seattle police Chief Kathleen O’Toole reported Monday both officers involved had undergone Crisis Intervention Training. One had CIT certification, which requires him to have completed additional intensive de-escalation and mental-health intervention training.
What is still unclear is whether the responding officers had time or space to employ these techniques, and whether children’s presence influenced the use of deadly force.
Charleena Lyles’s brother Domico Jones stated his sister suffered from mental illness for the past year and the family tried to help her. He said the four-year-girl in Lyles’s care suffers from Down syndrome and required Lyles’ perpetual attention. He said Lyles was concerned the children would be taken from her and that the apartment management wanted her out of the Brettler complex.
Seattle City Council members call for a “full and fair investigation.”
Rob Johnson, who represents the council district where the shooting took place, said in a statement:
“People should not fear getting shot when they call law enforcement for help.”
Wanda Cockerhern, Lyles’s cousin, commented:
“Each time she called [the police], it cost her something. This time it cost her her life.”
Watch this report for more information about the shooting (after the jump):
Featured Image: Screenshot Via YouTube Video.
