PASCO, Wash. — The mother of an unarmed Mexican man fatally shot by police officers in Washington state viewed her son's body for the first time Monday and said she hopes for justice in the case that has sparked protests and calls for a federal investigation.
The Feb. 10 killing of Antonio Zambrano-Montes in Pasco was captured on video by a witness. Zambrano-Montes' mother, Agapita Montes-Rivera, spoke to reporters before entering a local funeral home with other family members and said through an interpreter that the situation is difficult.
"I want people to understand my pain," the 60-year-old said. "It's really hard. ... When I saw the video, I felt really bad. That's why I asked for justice."
Her attorney said she fainted when she first saw her son's body.
Authorities say Zambrano-Montes, a 35-year-old Mexican immigrant and former orchard worker, was throwing rocks at officers and a stun gun failed to subdue him. The Franklin County coroner has ordered an inquest into the death, which is being reviewed by a regional task force and monitored by federal authorities.
The high-profile attorney who represented the family of Michael Brown, a black man killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, said he'll represent Zambrano-Montes' family. Benjamin Crump was in Pasco meeting with the family Monday.
"At the heart of the matter is what's going on with what we see on that video — is it appropriate or not?" Crump, who is based in Florida, told The Associated Press.
In a video recording by Dario Infante Zuniga, 21, of Pasco, five "pops" are audible, and Zambrano-Montes can be seen running away, pursued by three officers. As the officers draw closer, he stops, turns around and faces them. Multiple "pops" are heard, and the man falls to the ground.
Crump said Zambrano-Montes spoke no English and was an immigrant living in the country illegally. Felix Vargas, head of the Pasco Hispanic rights group Consejo Latino, said a Seattle-based Justice Department official met with his group Sunday. The official said meetings are planned this week with local authorities, Vargas said.
"Zambrano-Montes had his hands up. Why did you have to shoot him?" Crump asked.
Police said officers felt threatened. Zambrano-Montes was arrested last year for assault after throwing objects at Pasco officers and trying to grab an officer's pistol, court records show.
Authorities have said Zambrano-Montes was not armed with a gun or knife when he was killed. Whether he had a rock in his hand when he was shot is still under investigation.
Two of the officers involved were white, and the other Hispanic. All three opened fire, though the number of shots has not been disclosed.
The killing was the fourth by Pasco police in less than a year.
IN-DEPTH
- Pasco Shooting: DOJ Talks To Latino Group, Will Meet With Police
- Pasco Police Shooting: Cops Seek More Video of Antonio Zambrano-Montes' Death