Three Washington police officers were not going to be charged with any criminal case after killing a Mexican immigrant farmworker last February.
According to reuters.com, the Mexican farmworker was Antonio Zambrano-Montes and was killed in southeastern farming hub of Pasco. The jury's decision had caused anger among Antonio's supporters and Latino community. They also criticized the use of force against the minorities by the police and its officers.
Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Shawn Sant announced his decision and he said "I believe that a unanimous jury would not find the presence of malice or absence of good faith in this case." However, the victim's lawyer, George Trejo, said that the victim's family was "extremely disappointed" and described polices' act as "the execution of their loved one." He also added, "We are not surprised by this decision but disgusted and disappointed."
According to theguardian.com, Attorney Jose Baez said "This forces us to seek justice for Antonio and his family in a different forum, one of the family's choosing, not in the police home court. Shortly, we will be filing a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the proper plaintiffs."
On the other hand, Sant firmly stood on their decision and said that Zambrano- Montes was killed due to attempts of hurting the police officers after picking up a 2.8lb rock after repeatedly throwing other rocks to cars and police themselves. Sant said that "the officers used lethal force to prevent injury to themselves and others." He also described the shooting "reasonable under the standards established in our state laws" and "lacking in malice." The witnesses, according to the prosecutor, said that Zambrano- Montes was "hysterical and screaming and repeatedly told police officers to kill him." High level of methamphetamine was also found in his blood, according to a toxicology report.
The incident started when the police received a report that Zambrano- Montes was throwing rocks at different cars. The officers later then chased him but he turn on them carrying a huge rock which made the police open- fired at him, causing him to collapse and ultimately, dead.
