PASCO, Wash. — A county coroner in southeastern Washington says he'll order an inquest in a deadly police shooting in hopes of defusing rising tensions.
The family of an orchard worker killed after he was accused of hurling rocks at police filed a $25 million claim Friday with the city of Pasco. The president of Mexico reiterated his country's condemnation of the violence against a Mexican citizen.
Franklin County Coroner Dan Blasdel says he's decided to proceed with an inquest open to the public in hopes of calming "some of the fears and outrage of the community."
Police involved in the investigation confirmed Friday that Antonio Zambrano-Montes was not armed with either a gun or a knife when Pasco police fatally shot him Tuesday. Witnesses say the man was running away when police fired.
The wife of the Latino man killed in Pasco on Tuesday has filed a $25 million claim against the city. The claim asserts that Antonio Zambrano-Montes was “killed execution style…with no knife or firearm in his hands.”
The victim’s aunt, Linda Zambrano, spoke to KIRO 7 through an interpreter Friday night and said she feels horrible about what happened.
“The family’s still pretty sad about it,” said Rigo Gallegos, a family friend who translated for Linda Zambrano.
Gallegos says he believes Antonio Zambrano-Montes was murdered.
The Mexican government today condemned the police shooting of a Latino man in Pasco, after citizen video showed he might have been unarmed.
Montes suffered gunshot wounds to the torso, according to a description of the autopsy conducted today.
Montes had been throwing rocks at police witnesses say.
Click here to see photos of the Pasco police shooting and aftermath.
Cellphone video shows him running from police after the first volley of shots, appearing to put his hands up briefly.
Then turning toward officers and moving his arms upward again before the fatal volley of shots. A spokesman for the investigation said it’s not clear whether he was holding anything at the time of the fatal shots.
With protests in Pasco continuing the Mexican government has stepped in, sending a letter condemning the shooting and demanding an investigation and accountability.
“Whether the determination, whether the use of force was justified or not. We believe that it wasn't from the evidence that is out there publicly,” Mexican Consul Eduardo Baca said in an interview.
The three Pasco officers are on paid administrative leave -- and a special team from outside the Pasco department will conduct the investigation.
“I hope that we've built trust, we are the best at investigating deaths, homicides. And if not us then who?” said Sgt. Ken Lattin, spokesman for the multi-agency Special Investigations Unit.
We asked Baca if it's fair to question American justice, when Mexico also has problems in its justice system.
“It is my job to defend and to aid a Mexican national like any consulate around the world, like the U.S. consulate would do anywhere around the world for a U.S. national,” he responded.
Baca says the consulate is expediting travel documents, so that Antonio Zambrano-Montes’ mother can get to Pasco as soon as possible.
On Saturday night, family members said they hope the rally will be peaceful.
People from all over the country are expected to be there, and KIRO 7 spoke to a Seattle activist.
“Like people in Ferguson, people are saying were not going to live this way anymore. We’re not gonna let this get swept under the rung. We’re gonna stand up!” said Emma Kaplan.
KIRO
