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 The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Spokane alleged that
three officers erratically fired 17 times at Antonio
Zambrano-Montes, 35, as he ran from them at a busy intersection in
the southeastern city of Pasco on Feb. 10.
Police have said he was shot after pelting the officers with rocks.
The officers have not been charged.
"Antonio Zambrano was unjustifiably and wrongly shot and killed by
the three Defendant City of Pasco police officers, denying him his
civil rights as protected by federal law," family attorney George
Trejo wrote in the complaint that named Pasco, its police department
and police chief and the three officers as defendants.
The shooting reflected a pattern of unconstitutional practices,
excessive force and poor training of the city's officers, the
complaint added.
As a result of the family's loss, estranged widow Teresa De Jesus
Meraz and her young children are due damages in excess of $25
million, according to the complaint.
Last month, members of Zambrano-Montes' family filed a separate
$4.76 million wrongful death claim against the city.
The killing was among a series of killings across the United States
that have put law enforcement agencies under scrutiny over their use
of force, particularly against minorities. It prompted
demonstrations in Pasco, which has a Latino majority.
City Manager Dave Zabell said in a statement that Pasco did not
comment on pending litigation.
Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Shawn Sant said the office was
still reviewing whether criminal charges are warranted against the
officers.
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"Our focus remains on whether a crime was committed and appropriate
charges if any," he said in an email to Reuters.
Police said two stun guns failed to subdue Zambrano-Montes during a
standoff, and investigators concluded Zambrano-Montes was "likely in
possession of a rock" during a second volley of police bullets and
had used methamphetamine.
"He was trying to physically seriously injure or kill us. He wasn't
backing off at all," Officer Ryan Flanagan, who has since resigned,
told an investigator.
Video of the incident showed Zambrano-Montes fleeing from pursuing
officers before turning to face them and being gunned down.
(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Curtis Skinner
and Peter Cooney)
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