The City of Seattle has agreed to pay USD 3.5 million to the four children of a black mother who was shot and killed by police.
Thirty-year-old Charleena Lyles died on 18th June 2017 when she called the police to report a burglary.
Two officers responded to the call and, according to their report, evidence at the scene pointed towards the fact that the crime had been staged.
They described how Charleena took out a knife as she stood in her kitchen.
They both shot at her and she received seven bullets and died from her injuries.
She was pregnant at the time and her death sparked outrage and protests.
Her sister Monika Williams was reported as saying: “Why couldn’t they have Tased her? They could have taken her down. I could have taken her down.”
The court heard how Charleena was a victim of domestic violence and had a history of suffering with mental health issues.
Her children, aged between five and 16, filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit, which was planned to go to trial in February of next year.
However, on 30th November, a settlement of USD 3.5 million (GBP 2.6 million) was reached after a 13-and-a-half-hour session overseen by a judge.
The children, two of whom have special needs, are now in the care of the victim’s aunt, who is in the process of adopting them.
The Seattle Police Department wrote in an online statement: “We hope that this tragic case continues to serve to drive momentum towards comprehensive, holistic reform of all systems that meet at the intersection of public health and public safety.”
