Seattle officer in fatal shooting: ‘I don’t have a Taser’
Authorities say 30-year-old Charleena Lyles confronted the two officers Sunday when they responded to a burglary call at her apartment. Family members have questioned why police didn’t use non-lethal options when they knew Lyles had been struggling with mental health issues.
The transcript of the police recording released by authorities shows that one of them said “get back” and “Tase her” and the other officer replied: “I don’t have a Taser.”
The transcript released by police late Monday shows that one of the officers also said “we need help” and they were facing “a woman with two knives.”
According to the transcript Lyles also said “Get ready (expletive).”
The initial conversation between the pregnant woman and the two Seattle police officers seemed polite, professional and calm. She let them into her apartment. They asked her about the video game console she reported stolen.
But the confrontation quickly erupted. A police audio recording has the officers shouting “get back!” and the woman saying “do it! do it!”
Lyles’ killing came less than two weeks after authorities say she threatened officers with long metal shears when they responded to a domestic disturbance at her home. Read more.
