A 30-year-old woman, who called 911 to report an attempted burglary at her home in Seattle, was shot dead by two cops. The woman identified as Charleena Lyles, was said to be carrying a knife.
Lyles was three-months pregnant and already a mother of four, according to family members. Lyles' cousin said she was depressed but not violent, and "was going through some things in her life," reports NBC News.
She was reportedly killed in front of her young kids in her apartment.
We’re still trying to wrap our heads around why she was murdered.Tiffany Rogers, Lyles’ younger sister told NBC News.
Outrage Over Police Brutality
Her death has led to widespread outrage across the nation. People are once again raising questions about the use of excessive force by the police against Black Americans.
Social media was rife with strong reactions to the incident, demanding justification for the death of Lyles.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a non-profit organisation that works to protect the rights of American citizens, also tweeted in regard to the incident demanding a response from the government.
Response From Authorities
An audio recording and a video from the hallway outside Lyles' apartment, moments before the shooting, was released by Seattle police in the aftermath of the incident. “Get back! Get back!,” the police can be heard yelling in the clip, which is followed by the sound of consecutive gun shots.
Seattle mayor Ed Murray said in a statement,
Our historic police reforms, from de-escalation training to civilian-monitored force review, are in place to address such crises. This will be fully investigated.
A vigil organised in her memory drew large scores of people who confronted authorities about the treatment of racially marginalised communities.
Racial tension remains rife in America, following the recent judgement in the police-shooting of Philando Castile. Castile was a Black man who was shot dead in July 2016 for possessing a licensed-firearm by a cop named Jeronimo Yanez. On 16 June 2017, Officer Yanez was acquitted of all charges.
Also Read: Shocking Footage of Cop Shooting Black Man in Minnesota Released
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