Coroner’s Inquest wraps up with Pasco police officers testimony

The jury began deliberating Wednesday after last of the witnesses testified at the Coroner's inquest into the shooting death of Antonio Zambrano-Montes.

Before the jury started, a spokesperson for media, Gary Warnock, confirmed juror #6 was dismissed for reports it appeared the juror was sleeping during the inquest yesterday.

Three witnesses presented testimony throughout the morning and into the afternoon on Wednesday. One of the officers involved in shooting and killing Zambrano-Montes, Pasco officer Adrian Alaniz, testified he shot in self-defense.

"I realized at that point that there was no where that we could go. That sidewalk is not very large, and we [three police officers] were standing right side-to-side and if he [Zambrano-Montes] were to throw the rock at that range one of us was going to get hit in the face, bottom line. He was starting to raise the rock and I had to stop him before he was going to be able to throw the rock. So I raised my pistol up and I got him in my sights and I fired one round," says Alaniz.

Pasco officer Adam Wright also testified and Dr. Sigmund Menchel, a forensic pathologist who preformed the autopsy on Zambrano-Montes. On Tuesday former Pasco officer Ryan Flanagan testified via a video link.

The inquest can only provide a recommendation and not charges. Local, state and federal prosecutors all have declined to pursue criminal charges against the three officers involved in the shooting.

Coroner Dan Blasdel has said the reason for the inquest is to provide transparency for the community. There has been some question from community members and two Latino organizations on the race of the jurors.

The Latino Coalition Tri-Cities has said the organization is glad the inquest was finally held but upset with the selection of the jury saying in part, "This is nothing more than a slap in the face to the entire Latino community that still has this tragedy hanging over it's head."

A spokesperson for the Latino Civic Alliance, Nina Martinez said Wednesday the state-wide organization was ultimately disappointed in the jury, but have been told it was a random electronic selection process. Martinez says that has prompted the organization to start digging into the jury selection process for not just Pasco but the entire state of Washington. Although, she says she does not believe anything will be changed in regards to the coroner's inquest.