Two witnesses said an unarmed Mexican immigrant fatally shot by police in Pasco, Wa., fought with an officer, threw rocks and told officers to shoot him before they opened fire, say newly released documents reported by the Associated Press. Witness Miguel Estrada said said he saw Antonio Zambrano-Montes throw rocks at officers then run away before he was shot on Feb. 10. Estrada said Zambrano-Montes screamed at officers: “ 'If you are gonna shoot me, shoot me.' ”
The death of the 35-year-old Zambrano-Montes was captured on video and led to months of protests in the town that is an agricultural center. A prosecutor is deciding whether the three officers who shot Zambrano-Montes should face criminal charges. Another witness, Chris Pirtle, also told authorities Zambrano-Montes dared officers to shoot. “He kept on throwing the rocks, and the cop was telling him, 'Hey, put down the rock,' ” Pirtle said. Zambrano-Montes didn't comply, witnesses said. “He just kept telling him, 'Shoot me, kill me,' ” Pirtle said. Authorities say Zambrano-Montes had been throwing rocks at passing motorists and police, and a stun gun failed to subdue him before he was shot.