County orders inquest into Seattle police shooting of Charleena Lyles
Oct 17, 2017, 4:23 PM | Updated: 4:35 pm
Charleena Lyles (File, KIRO 7)
(File, KIRO 7)
King County Executive Dow Constantine has ordered an inquest into the fatal police shooting of Charleena Lyles.
Inquests, in which jurors answer dozens of questions about the circumstances of a death, are routinely requested by county executives after police shootings.
The inquest does not determine whether the officers are criminally or civilly liable, though prosecutors factor results of questions from inquest hearings in their charging decisions.
Lyles, a 30-year-old woman who had recently been ordered to undergo mental health treatment, was fatally shot in a confrontation with police officers Sunday, June 18.
Officers said Lyles was armed with two kitchen knives and, in audio of the incident, she is heard saying, “Get ready, motherf—ers.”
Her family has raised questions about why Lyles was shot instead of being controlled with nonlethal force. Police are conducting a review of the case, and a shooting inquest is expected.
