Months of Delays In Coroner’s Inquest Into Death of Unarmed Man

SEATTLE — Prosecutors have confirmed that a coroner’s inquest into the death of Antonio Zambrano-Montes, an unarmed Mexican migrant shot and killed by Pasco, Wash. police, would likely not be held until this summer.

Antonio Zambrano-Montes, an unarmed Mexican migrant, moments before being shot in Pasco, Wash.

Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant said it could take months before his office considers the possibility of filing charges against the officers who shot and killed Zambrano-Montes. The officers, who fired 17 bullets at their victim, struck him 5 times. Police allege that the unarmed man was throwing rocks at officers and “acting erratically.”

Sant cites one reason for the long delay is that there is a tight schedule involving other inquests.

“After the inquest we will review whether any charges are appropriate. We may have reports in two or three weeks, but no guarantee. We are also awaiting reports on the second and third autopsies.”

“Realistically with the schedule of other homicide cases set to go May 27 and June 24, the inquest will likely be in July or August time frame,” he said.

The Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs and Consejo Latino, two civil rights groups, have called for an independent prosecutor on the case, saying Sant has “conveyed the impression that he had taken the side of the police officers” at media appearances. Sant, who is himself a former police officer with a close relationship to the police department involved in the killing of the unarmed man, defended himself by claiming those appearances were intended to make it easier to distribute information.