Pasco Shooting Update: Antonio Zambrano-Montes' Parents, Area Latinos Want Federal Investigation After Conflicting Autopsy Reports
Investigations into the death of Antonio Zambrano-Montes, the 35-year-old man who threw rocks at cars and ended up being shot by police in Pasco, Washington, have arrived at different conclusions.
One report said he was shot five or six times. A task force spokesman said the police fired 17 shots, and the Mexican orchard worker was not shot in the back in the February incident, according to NBC News.
A third autopsy has lawyers for Zambrano-Montes' parents questioning the number of times he was shot. He may have been shot up to seven times, reports the Seattle Times. Now, Zambrano-Montes' parents want a federal investigation to look into the shooting, as the Franklin County-ordered autopsy does not coincide with the one ordered by lawyers for Zambrano-Montes' estranged wife.
It's not just the number of times he was shot that is problematic. The family's attorney, Charles Herrmann, said that one autopsy report concluded that Zambrano-Montes was shot in the buttocks and back of the arm, which is in opposition to statements made by the task force, reports CNN.
A final report could take up to four weeks to be completed.
Although details of the event are still unclear, witnesses said Zambrano-Montes was retreating when he was shot. Videos also seem to support that he was moving away from police, according NBC News.
There were three officers at the scene, and at one point, Zambrano-Montes was throwing rocks at them as well. Spokesman Kennewick Police Sgt. Ken Lattin said the three officers fired shots, and a Taser was also used before the shooting took place.
It's not just Zambrano-Montes' parents that want a federal investigation. An area Latino group has written a letter to the Department of Justice asking for the same.
"On behalf of the family of Antonio Zambrano Montes, I request the immediate intervention by the U.S. Department of Justice in the case involving the shooting by members of the Pasco, Washington police force of Mr. Zambrano," said the letter sent to Attorney General Eric Holder by Consejo Latino chairman Felix Vargas, according to Latino Rebels. "The victim was an unarmed civilian who was fleeing the police at the time he was gunned down on the afternoon of Tuesday, 10 February 2015. The incident was fully captured on cell phone videos which are posted on YouTube and which have drawn widespread national and international condemnation, including by the President and Congress of Mexico."
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