Inquest Into Pasco Shooting This Spring

PASCO, Wash. (AP) — The Franklin County Coroner says he'll hold an inquest this spring into the death of an orchard worker who was fatally shot by Pasco police last year.

Coroner Dan Blasdel has been pushing for a year for the inquest into the death of Antonio Zambrano-Montes, who was throwing rocks at police when he was shot.

He had been met with resistance from county commissioners and judges over funding and courtroom access for the procedure.

The Tri-City Herald reports the issues were resolved this week with a prosecutor offering to donate services and with the Legislature passing a bill requiring counties to make court facilities available for inquests.

Commissioners had described the inquest as a waste of taxpayer money.

A prosecutor previously announced the officers who opened fire on Zambrano-Montes wouldn't face criminal charges.