Pasco Police Shooting Could Go To Inquest Jury

PASCO, Wash. (AP) — A coroner whose office is conducting an autopsy on an orchard worker shot by Pasco police after he was accused of throwing rocks at officers is considering convening an inquest jury to look into the death.

The Seattle Times reports that Franklin County Coroner Dan Blasdel says controversy over Tuesday's shooting of 35-year-old Antonio Zambrano-Montes would justify a coroner's inquest, in which a jury is presented with evidence and decides whether the officers' actions were justified.

Pasco Police Chief Bob Metzger has appealed for patience during an investigation by the Tri-City Special Investigation Unit and an internal review. Blasdel says he won't decide about an inquest until the investigation is complete.