PASCO — The family of an unarmed Mexican immigrant fatally shot by police in Pasco has been given forensic reports and other documents from the investigation into his death.
Authorities released the files to Antonio Zambrano-Montes’ relatives on Tuesday, a day before they were to be released to the public.
The 35-year-old former orchard worker was shot Feb. 10 by three Pasco police officers. Authorities say he was throwing rocks at police and a stun gun failed to subdue him.
The Tri-City Herald reported that attorneys for the Zambrano-Montes family said at a news conference they have concerns about the investigation after meeting with the Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant.
The prosecutor is considering whether criminal charges are warranted, a process likely to take months.
The attorneys commended Sant for meeting with Zambrano-Montes’ parents, but said they had concerns about the time it took authorities to interview the officers who shot him.
Attorney Jose Baez declined to say anything specifically about what was in the investigative file, citing a confidentiality agreement.
“The limited portion that we’ve reviewed, which is critical, is quite disappointing,” Baez said.
The shooting of Zambrano-Montes prompted months of protests in Pasco, an agricultural center with 68,000 residents about 130 miles southwest of Spokane, after cellphone video showed the officers chasing him across a street before shooting him as he turned around.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
