Two days after Seattle Police killed Charleena Lyles, a pregnant mother who had called them to report a burglary, hundreds of supporters gathered outside the apartment complex where the shooting took place to honor Lyles and demand justice. Several family members, sometimes through sobs, spoke to cameras and the crowd. After the rally, the crowd filed out of the complex for a three-mile, peaceful march to Husky Field.
Exactly what took place before two white Seattle police officers, identified late last night as Steven McKnew and Jason Anderson, fired the fatal shots remains unclear. Snippets of audio reveal a calm conversation between the two officers and Lyles about a stolen Xbox. Suddenly, things escalate. The officers shout “Get back!” One says he doesn’t have a Taser, according to a transcript. They fire. But for Lyles’ family and their advocates, the nature of Lyles’ death is crystal clear.
