King 5 News

September 8, 2017
By Elisa Hahn, Alex Rozier
Twitter elisahahnk5, alexrozierk5

Attorneys representing the family filed a claim Friday morning, the first step before officially filing suit.

The estate of Charleena Lyles has taken the first step in filing a lawsuit against the city of Seattle.

Attorneys representing Charles Lyles, father and representative of her estate, filed a claim Friday morning for wrongful death against the city. The claim asserts Seattle Police violated her civil rights, that its officers were negligent, and that they violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, because she was mentally ill.

"Even to this day it seems like a dream that she's gone," said Charles Lyles at a press conference on Friday. 

"I cry a lot. Sometimes I wake up at night. I can't eat," he said.

Charleena Lyles was fatally shot by two Seattle police officers who responded to a burglary call at her apartment on June 18. The officers say Lyles confronted them with a knife and they opened fire.

Three of her four children were in the home at the time of the shooting. Lyles was known by Seattle Police for having a mental condition and was told by a judge earlier in the year to get a mental health evaluation.