Greater scrutiny called for in Pasco police shooting of Antonio Zambrano-Montes.
FRANKLIN County Prosecutor Shawn Sant decided not to charge three police officers who shot and killed a Pasco man who was acting erratically, but clearly more scrutiny of the case and the actions of the officers is needed.
The February death of Antonio Zambrano-Montes grabbed national and international attention after a video showing the officers chasing and firing at the 35-year-old man, who was throwing rocks, went viral.
The shooting ignited tensions between the Latino community and law enforcement in the small Eastern Washington city, and it heightened concerns over police brutality, especially toward people of color and those who are mentally unstable.
Sant said evidence did not meet the high legal standard for a criminal prosecution, which requires proof an officer acted with malice. But important questions remain about whether the shooting was necessary or morally justified.
The prosecutor’s decision underscores the need to amend Washington state law. Kathleen Taylor, of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, said the law “makes prosecutors exceedingly unwilling to file charges against police and thereby makes it almost impossible to hold police accountable for wrongfully killing civilians.”
The greater the scrutiny in this case, the better.”
Gov. Jay Inslee also called for state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to review the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division also are continuing to investigate the shooting to determine if any federal law was violated.
Franklin County Coroner Dan Blasdel plans to hold an independent inquest, which would convene a jury of six to determine the cause of death and whether the shooting was justified.
The greater the scrutiny in this case, the better.
The state Commission on Hispanic Affairs expressed frustration and disappointment at Sant’s decision not to press charges, which the agency said will further erode trust between the Latino community and local law enforcement.
The Pasco Police Department plans an internal investigation. One of the three officers involved resigned while two remain on paid leave. Though they are cleared of criminal charges at this point, the officers should not continue serving a community rattled by such a troubling incident.
Before any type of healing process can begin, the community in Pasco and beyond needs reassurance that the death of Zambrano-Montes was handled with the utmost concern for justice and accountability.