Family of a mentally ill woman files lawsuit against San Mateo Co. after deadly shooting
SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif.
The family of a mentally ill woman filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against San Mateo County Sheriffs Office Tuesday after a deputy shot and killed the 18-year-old last June. The suit alleges that the deputy violated Fourth Amendment limits on police authority.
In late August, San Mateo County Yanira Serrano-Garcia's mother broke down as she announced the suit.
With her attorney acting as translator Carmen Serrano-Garcia said, They not only killed Yanira they killed the entire family and the goal is to prevent any other family from suffering this kind of pain."
Serrano-Garcia battled mental illness and on June 3rd her brother, Tony Serrano, called 911 because she refused to take her medication and was fighting with their parents.
In addition to filing suit the family released 911 recordings from the incident. Tony Serrano asked for medical help.
"This is not really an emergency. I'm calling because my sister she has the schizophrenia, he can be heard saying in the 911 recording.
According to the familys attorney Yanira was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 15 years old.
"The Sheriff's Department was aware of that, they had visited her on three prior occasions without incident, said Arnoldo Casillas, family attorney.
In the time it took Deputy Menh Trieu to reach the San Mateo County home, the family says Yanira had taken her medicine and was in the house.
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Family of a mentally ill woman files lawsuit against San Mateo Co. after deadly shooting