Family sues San Mateo County after teenage daughter fatally shot by deputy

SAN MATEO, Calif. (KGO) -- San Mateo County is facing a civil rights lawsuit from the family of a Half Moon Bay teenager who was killed by a sheriff's deputy.

The family of 18-year-old Yania Serrano talked about the lawsuit at the spot where June's fatal shooting took place.

They say they called police because Serrano refused to take her medicine for schizophrenia.

When deputy Menh Trieu arrived, he found Serrano running toward him as she held a 10-1/2 inch kitchen knife above her head.

The officer shot and killed her.

The family accused the deputy of escalating the situation.

"There was just no reason to shoot," Arnold Casillas said. "The only person that was in even remote danger was the deputy that created the circumstances."

The San Mateo County District Attorney chose not to file any charges against deputy Trieu, who said he feared for his life.