Family of Mexican national files claim, accuse police of murder 'execution style'

[Nice Squirrel]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/14/us/washington-police-shooting/index.html

he family of a Mexican national fatally shot by police in Pasco, Washington, has filed a $25 million claim against the city alleging that three officers killed the unarmed man "execution style."

Antonio Zambrano-Montes, 35, was shot by police Tuesday after he allegedly hurled rocks at vehicles and Pasco officers.

 

[credoconsolans]

I believe US citizens are protected from lawsuits filed by citizens of other countries.

I guess they can be heard in a World Court?

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

Without seeing the video it's hard to make a call, but from my armchair it's tough to justify three armed officers shooting someone to death for throwing rocks at cars and resisting arrest.

It is mentioned this is not this gentleman's first such altercation with police for the same reason. These things are happening so frequently they are losing their shock value to me.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Why would they be protected from that? If an American kills someone in America, it seems like the Americam courts would have jurisdiction in both criminal and civil cases regardless of who the victim was.

 

[fast]

Why would they be protected from that? If an American kills someone in America, it seems like the Americam courts would have jurisdiction in both criminal and civil cases regardless of who the victim was.

But the plaintiff isn't an American.

 

[J842P]

Why would they be protected from that? If an American kills someone in America, it seems like the Americam courts would have jurisdiction in both criminal and civil cases regardless of who the victim was.

But the plaintiff isn't an American.

It is the state that is the plaintiff in murder cases.
The plaintiff is America.

 

[fast]

But the plaintiff isn't an American.

It is the state that is the plaintiff in murder cases.
The plaintiff is America.

The state isn't the Plaintiff. This isn't a criminal case.

 

[credoconsolans]

It is the state that is the plaintiff in murder cases.
The plaintiff is America.

The state isn't the Plaintiff. This isn't a criminal case.

Correct. The state will investigate the murder and pursue justice.

The lawsuit is a civil case filed by foreigners and has no jurisdiction here.

 

[fast]

The shooting will be investigated.

 

[Underseer]

Without seeing the video it's hard to make a call, but from my armchair it's tough to justify three armed officers shooting someone to death for throwing rocks at cars and resisting arrest.

It is mentioned this is not this gentleman's first such altercation with police for the same reason. These things are happening so frequently they are losing their shock value to me.

These are American cops. They routinely kill people who are armed with toy guns, or even people who are completely unarmed, so we shouldn't be surprised that they would kill someone who was actually throwing rocks.

 

[Derec]

After two officers were struck with rocks -- at least one of them as large as a softball -- police said the officers resorted to deadly force.

Why was he doing that? Did he have mental health issues or something? I.e., in plain English, was he nuts?

Zambrano-Montes's family have told reporters he wouldn't have been able to understand the commands.

"He didn't understand English and they were talking to him in English," one cousin said. "Why not get a Hispanic officer?"

How long did he live in the US? And supposedly he didn't understand even enough English to understand simple commands? I wonder if he was one of the illegals Obama wants to give amnesty to.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

Why was he doing that? Did he have mental health issues or something? I.e., in plain English, was he nuts?

Zambrano-Montes's family have told reporters he wouldn't have been able to understand the commands.

"He didn't understand English and they were talking to him in English," one cousin said. "Why not get a Hispanic officer?"

How long did he live in the US? And supposedly he didn't understand even enough English to understand simple commands? I wonder if he was one of the illegals Obama wants to give amnesty to.

Most of the first generation immigrants in my family neighborhood didn't understand English to the day they died, mostly in their 80s.

It doesn't sit with me that they had to shoot him to death for throwing rocks. Three cops can't take a man down who's throwing rocks? Were they afraid of the guy? I'm 61, not a trained cop, and I could have taken this guy down by myself. I think this is another unsurprising case of piss poor training. They couldn't get close enough to shoot him without killing him?

 

[Tom Sawyer]

The state isn't the Plaintiff. This isn't a criminal case.

Correct. The state will investigate the murder and pursue justice.

The lawsuit is a civil case filed by foreigners and has no jurisdiction here.

That makes no sense. I'm not saying that you're not correctly describing the law, but it makes no sense.

If someone abuses his power and causes damages as a result, they should be civically liable for those damages and the person he damaged being from another country should be as relevant to the discussion as whether or not the guy was wearing a blue shirt.

 

[fast]

Correct. The state will investigate the murder and pursue justice.

The lawsuit is a civil case filed by foreigners and has no jurisdiction here.

That makes no sense. I'm not saying that you're not correctly describing the law, but it makes no sense.

If someone abuses his power and causes damages as a result, they should be civically liable for those damages and the person he damaged being from another country should be as relevant to the discussion as whether or not the guy was wearing a blue shirt.

My previous objection had nothing to do with your conclusion. The only thing he is right about is that I'm correct and that the lawsuit is a civil case filed by foreigners. I'm not sure why you think abuse of power is relevant. Oh, and let's not forget the officer isn't even being sued.

 

[Derec]

Most of the first generation immigrants in my family neighborhood didn't understand English to the day they died, mostly in their 80s.

I do have some understanding for people who are already old when they come to a different country. But somebody who is 35? I have no understanding whatsoever for that, unless he was retarded (or whatever the PC word of the week is for that) or something.

It doesn't sit with me that they had to shoot him to death for throwing rocks. Three cops can't take a man down who's throwing rocks? Were they afraid of the guy? I'm 61, not a trained cop, and I could have taken this guy down by myself. I think this is another unsurprising case of piss poor training. They couldn't get close enough to shoot him without killing him?

Perhaps they could have apprehended him without shooting him. However, they did try to tase him and "shooting to wound" is a Hollywood thing.
All that said, I place most of the blame on him in any case. Had he not thrown rocks like a maniac he'd not have gotten shot.
And his family demanding 25 million is ridiculous and just shows how much of a gold digger his wife is.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

I do have some understanding for people who are already old when they come to a different country. But somebody who is 35? I have no understanding whatsoever for that, unless he was retarded (or whatever the PC word of the week is for that) or something.

What part of the First Amendment requires people to speak in English? Because we had entire towns here where most people spoke Polish or Norwegian up until the 1960s.

It doesn't sit with me that they had to shoot him to death for throwing rocks. Three cops can't take a man down who's throwing rocks? Were they afraid of the guy? I'm 61, not a trained cop, and I could have taken this guy down by myself. I think this is another unsurprising case of piss poor training. They couldn't get close enough to shoot him without killing him?

Perhaps they could have apprehended him without shooting him. However, they did try to tase him and "shooting to wound" is a Hollywood thing.
All that said, I place most of the blame on him in any case. Had he not thrown rocks like a maniac he'd not have gotten shot.
And his family demanding 25 million is ridiculous and just shows how much of a gold digger his wife is.

How much should she ask for, $5 maybe $10?

 

[Derec]

Found a local article that gives more information on Antonio Zambrano-Montes.
Family: Man shot by Pasco police had battled depression

Turns out he was in the US at least 10 years. I.e. since he was 25 at most.

Antonio Zambrano-Montes, 35, was an orchard worker raised in Michoacan, Mexico, didn’t speak English well and had lived in Pasco for the last decade or so.

He has a criminal record and history of violence against police. I also wonder if he was on meth when he was shot as well.

Zambrano-Montes did have a history of erratic behavior, according to court documents. He was convicted of assault in 2014 after a confrontation with Pasco police, who tried to stop him from hitting cars with a broom. He threw a rocking chair and tried to grab an officer’s gun from his belt while under the influence of methamphetamine.
[...]
Police had been called to North Eighth Avenue and West Bonneville Street at 10:49 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2014, for reports of a man walking around and hitting cars with a broom. Zambrano-Montes was found “making a commotion” on the front porch of a North Seventh Avenue home, according to court documents.
He picked up a rocking chair and tried to throw it at Officer Adam Brewster, then grabbed a mailbox and post and threw those. Brewster had to duck to avoid being hit in the head.
Zambrano-Montes ran from Brewster and Officer Jeffrey Cobb, then turned around, grabbed onto Brewster’s belt and put his hand around the officer’s service pistol, documents said. Brewster tried head-butting Zambrano-Montes in the right temple to incapacitate him, but it had no visible effect.
Zambrano-Montes was taken to the ground and continued to struggle with the two officers while grabbing onto Brewster’s pistol in an attempt to get it out of the holster, documents said. Cobb then shot him with a Taser and they were able to handcuff him.
He was taken to Lourdes Medical Center, where he reportedly admitted in the emergency room that he’d been using methamphetamines, documents said.

He was also violent toward his wife who left him years ago

A Pasco man shot dead by police Tuesday night as witnesses recorded the incident with their cellphones had battled depression after being separated from his two teen daughters, his family said.
[...]
In 2006, Teresa D. Meraz Ruiz filed for a protection order for herself and the couple’s two young daughters due to Zambrano-Montes’ “volatile behavior,” according to court documents.
She said he threatened to kill her many times, physically abused her, and pulled a knife and gun on her during their nine-year relationship. The daughters live in California with their mom.

What part of the First Amendment requires people to speak in English? Because we had entire towns here where most people spoke Polish or Norwegian up until the 1960s.

Did I say that constitution mandates it? No, so your objection is meaningless. Same with your example of Polish and Norwegian towns. Speaking these languages doesn't mean that one also doesn't speak English. Especially when we are not talking writing a dissertation on the collected works of Shakespeare or something but rather basic ability to communicate.
In any case it is not a good idea to not learn English in, as it turns out, at least ten years! And when something bad happens due to one's unwillingness to learn the language of the country, "he did not speak English" is not a reasonable defense as he had ample opportunity to learn.

How much should she ask for, $5 maybe $10?

Since she left him years ago I do not see why she should get any claim at all. Especially since he brought his shooting death on himself due to his own actions and since he has a history of violence against police.
However, even if police had really shot him "execution style" in "cold blood" and she was still his wife $2.5E7 is still more than an order of magnitude more than a non-English speaking orchard worker could hope to earn in a lifetime. So where the gold digging ex and her Saul Goodmanesque lawyers pulled that figure from I have no idea, but I strongly suspect no sun shines there.

 

[dismal]

Since she left him years ago I do not see why she should get any claim at all. Especially since he brought his shooting death on himself due to his own actions and since he has a history of violence against police.
However, even if police had really shot him "execution style" in "cold blood" and she was still his wife $2.5E7 is still more than an order of magnitude more than a non-English speaking orchard worker could hope to earn in a lifetime. So where the gold digging ex and her Saul Goodmanesque lawyers pulled that figure from I have no idea, but I strongly suspect no sun shines there.

Now, now. Just because she had a protective order against him because he threatened to kill her many times, physically abused her, and pulled a knife and gun on her doesn't mean she won't miss him.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

It doesn't sit with me that they had to shoot him to death for throwing rocks. Three cops can't take a man down who's throwing rocks? Were they afraid of the guy? I'm 61, not a trained cop, and I could have taken this guy down by myself. I think this is another unsurprising case of piss poor training. They couldn't get close enough to shoot him without killing him?

You realize cops have no armor? Thrown rocks can kill.

(Note: Their vests offer virtually no protection against rocks.)

 

[Nice Squirrel]

You realize cops have no armor?

Off topic, but most beat cops do wear concealable body armor.