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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Shooting protest blocks Pasco bridge

Tyler Richardson Tri-City Herald

Protesters shut down traffic on a bridge spanning the Columbia River on Saturday evening, as turmoil continued in Pasco nearly two weeks after a controversial police shooting caught on video. A group of more than 50 people blocked two lanes of state Highway 397 as they slowly marched south toward Kennewick across the cable bridge. Although lines of cars were backed up the length of the bridge, many motorists yelled and honked in support.

The bridge march was the climax of an afternoon of peaceful protests, which have been ongoing in the city since Antonio Zambrano-Montes was killed Feb. 10 while running from three Pasco police officers. More than 100 turned out Saturday afternoon for the second-largest protest since the shooting.

After crossing the bridge, the protesters turned and marched back toward Pasco, blocking traffic as the sun set on the river. A police car kept its distance as it trailed the crowd, then drove off.

Shouts of “We will not be silenced” and “We are all Antonio” echoed down 10th Avenue.

“This is about the right to not be shot by police because you have a rock in your hand,” said Alfredo LLamedo, 53, of Spokane, as he marched. “How many bullets were in that rock?”

The group was a mix of locals and others from around the state and Pacific Northwest. There were members of the United Farm Workers organization, well-known demonstrators from Seattle, and representatives of Occupy Tri-Cities.

There were no arrests reported and police had little contact with protesters, authorities said. Pasco police officials decided not to have patrol officers intervene when protesters marched across the bridge.

A majority of the demonstrators and speakers were Hispanic. They gathered at the spot outside a cafe where Zambrano-Montes died.

“This is not good. It’s not a good sign. It affects us all,” said Fard Mohammed, 65, from Tacoma. “The whole town should be out here from what I saw on that video.”

The shooting was captured on cellphone video cameras by several people at the busy intersection where the confrontation took place. The graphic videos of Zambrano-Montes – being chased by the three officers, then shot as he turns toward them – have sparked outrage internationally and led to a debate over whether someone holding a rock poses enough threat for officers to justify deadly force.

Police have said officers felt threatened by Zambrano-Montes. He had been arrested by Pasco police early last year when he was accused of assault after throwing objects at officers and trying to grab an officer’s pistol, court records show.

The officers who fired, Ryan Flanagan, Adam Wright and Adrian Alaniz, are on paid administrative leave while a 15-member team of officers from four local departments investigates the shooting.

Police have said Zambrano-Montes was not armed with either a gun or a knife. Whether he had a rock in his hand when he was shot is still under investigation, said Kennewick police Sgt. Ken Lattin, spokesman for the regional investigative unit examining the case. All three officers – two whites and one Hispanic – opened fire; the number of shots has not been disclosed.

Zambrano-Montes had recently spent time in a homeless shelter after his home burned. But investigators have been unable to interview anyone who saw him in the two weeks leading up to his death, Lattin said. Officers want to know if he had mental problems.

“His actions were not normal,” Lattin said at a news conference last week. “None of you would stand out there at 10th and Lewis Street and throw rocks at cars. And when the police show up, throw rocks at them and then run.”

Angela Zambrano, Zambrano-Montes’ aunt, was in tears Saturday when she talked about her nephew and the tragic end to his pursuit of the “American dream.” Like many of the Mexicans who come to the United States, the orchard worker only wanted a better life and future, she said.

“They took that opportunity away from him,” she said. “My nephew spent 10 years in this country. And now look at the way he’s going to back to Mexico.”

The Mexican government is working with the family to have Zambrano-Montes’ body returned to his hometown in Michoacan, Mexico. The family is planning a viewing on Monday and Tuesday in Pasco. A funeral will be held Wednesday.

While organizers again called for peace Saturday, many in the crowd vented anger over the latest police shooting. There have been four fatal shootings involving police officers in the city since July.

People shouted for a federal agency to take over the investigation into Zambrano-Montes’ death. They also called for charges against officers.

“The people are still not satisfied as to what has occurred,” said local resident Robert Cornejo, 74. “The situation and the answers have not been explained. They want to know what really happened. What caused this?”

The crowd marched through downtown to a roundabout, where they rallied around a Pasco police car. The protesters yelled at the cops to “stop killing us” before walking a few blocks to City Hall.

Nick Reykdal, who was in the crowd as it moved to City Hall, was visiting the Tri-Cities with his wife from Olympia, he said. He read about the shooting and wanted to take part in the march to get a feel for how the locals are reacting and what they plan to do.

“The voice needs to be heard from the people,” Reykdal said while walking down Third Avenue. “People are dying in the streets. After I saw the cellphone video I was shocked.”

The group – some wearing masks and riding on skateboards and bikes – swarmed the Pasco police station and yelled over loudspeakers that they would not be silenced. People screamed for justice as two police officers made their way to a patrol car lot.

However, everyone remained peaceful and police say the crowd started to disperse shortly after the bridge march about 8:30 p.m.

Felix Vargas, a Zambrano family adviser and leader of a local Hispanic community group, told the Herald an official with the U.S. Department of Justice will be in town today to discuss the shooting. He has asked federal officials take over the investigation.

Vargas has not agreed with Pasco police Chief Bob Metzger’s handling of the shooting, particularly his “denial” that there need to be changes in protocols and training within the force, he said. He has called for a review of the department following the local investigation.

“What happened here Feb. 10 is a breakdown in protocols as it is,” Vargas said just feet from where Zambrano-Montes was shot. “But it was also a breakdown in leadership.”

Reporter Franco Ordonez and the Associated Press contributed to this report.