The 2015 fatal police shooting of Antonio Zambrano-Montes in Pasco, Washington drew international attention and prompted condemnation from the Mexican government.
Key Facts
- Date of shooting
- February 10, 2015
- Victim's age
- 35 years
- Officers involved
- 3 (2 white, 1 Hispanic)
- Civil claim filed
- $4.8 million against city of Pasco
- Toxicology finding
- Methamphetamine detected in victim's blood
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Antonio Zambrano-Montes, a 35-year-old Mexican national, was alleged to have been throwing rocks at cars and police officers in Pasco, Washington. Officers reported one rock was as large as a softball. A subsequent toxicology report found methamphetamine in his system at the time of the incident.
On February 10, 2015, three Pasco police officers shot and killed Zambrano-Montes. Witnesses and video footage indicated his hands were raised when the fatal shots were fired, prompting his family and critics to characterize the shooting as an unjustified use of lethal force.
Zambrano-Montes' family filed a $4.8 million claim against Pasco, calling the shooting an execution. The incident drew condemnation from Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, who criticized the officers' disproportionate use of lethal force, elevating the case to an international diplomatic issue.