National

Woman Wishes She Could Have Saved Son Killed by Police

Published

11 years ago

February 25, 2015

Agapita Montes-Rivera, right, the mother of Antonio Zambrano-Montes, who was shot and killed by police in Pasco, Wash., on Feb. 10, 2015, sits with interpreter Fabian Ubay, left, as they talk with the media in Kennewick, Wash., Tuesday, Feb. 24. Agapita Montes-Rivera viewed her son’s body for the first time Monday, Feb. 23, and said she hopes for justice in the case that has sparked protests and calls for a federal investigation. The killing of Antonio Zambrano-Montes in Pasco was captured on video by a witness. (AP Photo/Nicholas K. Geranios)

NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS, Associated Press

KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) — When Agapita Montes-Rivera first watched the video of her son being gunned down by police in Washington state, she rushed to the TV set in a futile effort to help him.

The 60-year-old woman from tiny Parotita, Mexico, was more than 2,000 miles away and hadn’t seen her son in a decade.

“Truthfully, when I saw they were chasing him, and he puts his hands up, and they shoot him, I threw my hands at the television,” Montes-Rivera said Tuesday. “Had I been there in person, I would have been the first to jump in so they wouldn’t have shot him.”

Antonio Zambrano-Montes’ Feb. 10 death in the agricultural city of Pasco has sparked protests and calls for a federal investigation. Police killed the unarmed man who spoke little English after he allegedly threw rocks at officers.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Montes-Rivera said the three officers involved should go to prison.

“Police killed a person just for carrying a rock,” she said in Spanish at a library in Kennewick, across the Columbia River from Pasco. Montes-Rivera was in Washington for the grim task of retrieving her son’s body and returning it to their village for burial.

“A lot of police who carry guns believe they can just kill anybody,” she said. “It has happened too many times.”

Pasco Police Capt. Ken Roske declined to respond directly to the woman’s comments. But he said the department has confidence in an investigation being conducted by a regional task force.

Authorities have said Zambrano-Montes was acting erratically the night of the shooting, and officers felt threatened. They said a stun gun failed to subdue the 35-year-old agricultural worker.

In a bystander’s video, five “pops” are audible, and Zambrano-Montes can be seen running away, pursued by three officers. As the officers draw closer, he stops, turns and faces them. Multiple “pops” are heard, and he falls to the ground near a busy intersection.

The Franklin County coroner has ordered an inquest into the death, and federal authorities are monitoring the task force’s probe. The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington on Tuesday sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking for a federal investigation.

Montes-Rivera, who has 16 children, said she was not aware of any erratic behavior in her son’s past.

“He was cheerful, a hard worker,” said the mother, adding Zambrano-Montes came to the United States 10 years ago to find work and help out his family.

The family’s attorney, Benjamin Crump, has said Zambrano-Montes was in the country illegally and spoke little English. Crump also represented the family of Michael Brown, a black man killed by an officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

Court records show Zambrano-Montes was arrested last year for assault after throwing objects at Pasco police and trying to grab an officer’s pistol.

Montes-Rivera arrived in Pasco on Monday, and she had not yet had any contact with law enforcement. She said her husband was unable to make the trip and remained in Mexico.

The last time Montes-Rivera spoke with her son was Dec. 30, when she asked him to come home for a visit. He replied that he needed to make more money to make the trip.

The Mexican government is paying for Zambrano-Montes’ funeral home expenses and to transport the body back to Mexico, according to the Mexican counsel in Seattle. Mexico’s president earlier criticized the shooting.

Zambrano-Montes’ killing has sparked two weeks of protests in Pasco, which has a population of 68,000 and is more than 50 percent Hispanic.

Montes-Rivera said she is surprised by all the attention the death has received. She was overwhelmed when she visited a makeshift memorial to her son downtown.

The killing was the fourth by Pasco police in less than a year. Officers were exonerated after similar investigations in the first three cases. Critics in the latest case say the officers should have used less than lethal force to subdue Zambrano-Montes.

Authorities have said Zambrano-Montes was not armed with a gun or knife. Whether he had a rock in his hand when he was shot is still under investigation.

Two of the officers involved in his shooting were white, and the other Hispanic. All three opened fire, though the number of shots has not been disclosed.

Authorities have asked for patience as the investigation continues.

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Six Months in, Probate Reform Coalition Marks Progress in Protecting Elders From Financial Abuse

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By Tanya Dennis

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In response, PNG Publisher Paul Cobb set in motion a series of monthly town halls to address the problem and propose workable solutions, designating it a “year of action.”

At six months, the coalition has attracted families, advocates, and experts across the nation whose strategies have proven effective in their respective states, and who are moving forward collectively with the mission of engaging judicial, legislative, and enforcement agencies to ensure elders are not exploited or abused.

“The issue of elder abuse is multi-layered”, says NPRC planning committee member Venus Gist. “Elders are our most vulnerable population, next to children, and they are easily exploited by strangers, their own family members, and the judicial system designed to protect them.”

Since January, NPRC has, via monthly virtual meetings held on the first Thursday of each month, clearly defined the issues and formulated workable solutions that can be implemented nationwide.

“There are amazing laws on the books that protect elders and their assets,” said NPRC member Zakiya Jendayi. “The problem is they are ignored, and that lack of oversight has led to systemic abuse in the Probate Court system, not just in Alameda County, but nationwide.

“The scary part is the collusion and wall of silence NPRC has encountered when reaching out to the Judicial Council, legislators, and the State Bar for assistance. It’s so obvious that one hand is washing the other, that they’re protecting each other, that it’s difficult to initiate any type of meaningful reform much less dialogue.”

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The 2026 Best Global Universities rankings evaluated 2,250 research institutions from more than 100 countries

By Lila Thulin

U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Berkeley No. 7 in its 2026 list of the best global universities, which assesses more than 2,250 research institutions worldwide.

Berkeley also claimed the honor of top public university in the U.S.

Released on Monday, the list evaluates universities from more than 100 countries on 13 metrics such as global and research reputation (as reported by academics and peers) and number of highly cited scholarly papers.

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014.

“A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

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In September, U.S. News also released its 2026 Best Colleges list, in which Berkeley was also named the No. 1 public institution among American universities.

That honor joins other accolades judging campus to be the best public university in the country, such as those from Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education.

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Lock In Car Price: Avoid Dealer Payment Traps!

Watch the long-form video https://youtu.be/YANxGwD2CjI Don’t get swayed by monthly payments! Always settle the out-of-the-door price first, including all fees. Only then discuss monthly payments, terms, and potential add-ons. #AutoNetwork #CarBuyingTips #CarSales #DealershipSecrets #Negotiation
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