Family of Pasco shooting victim files $25M claim

The family of a man shot to death by police Tuesday has filed a $25 million claim against the city of Pasco, The Seattle Times reports.

The claim was filed Friday and alleges the officers who shot Antonio Zambrano-Montes used unnecessary and excessive force when they shot him, according to the Times.

A group of outside police agencies are investigating the death of the orchard worker. It’s the fourth fatal police shooting in Pasco since last summer.

Zambrano-Montes died of gunshot wounds to the torso, according to Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant.

Investigators are gathering dash-cam video, evidence from the shooting, citizen video, police equipment, and interviewing at least 40 witnesses.

Sgt. Ken Lattin of the Kennewick Police Department cautioned the public that the investigation will take weeks and that any decision on whether to bring charges against the three officers involved will be made by the Franklin County prosecutor.

The officers are on paid administrative leave.

“This is no different than any other homicide investigation,” Lattin said.

About 40 people who claim they witnessed the shooting have come forward, he said.

Witnesses say the officers – Ryan Flanagan, Adam Wright and Adrian Alaniz – fired about 13 rounds, the Times
reports.

“All we know … is what we’ve seen in those videos posted on social media,” Lattin said. “That doesn’t tell the whole story.”

An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.

Officers involved in the investigation are pleading with the public to not make a tense situation any worse. A protest is planned for Saturday in Pasco.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.