In February it will have been one year since Antonio Zambrano was fatally shot by Pasco police after throwing rocks at them, and endangering passers-by and motorists near 10th and Lewis in Pasco. Now, for the first time Coroner Dan Blasdel actually has a venue to hold a Coroner's Inquest, which he's been seeking since last summer.

Blasdel wants to hold the inquest, in which a 'jury' of citizens will hear all the information and testimony about the shooting with grabbed national headlines. Blasdel bsays he wants the inquest to prove that all investigations and information have been thoroughly and correctly examined in the previous SIU (special investigations unit) work, and nothing has been hidden or neglected.

He believes total transparency will be helpful in putting the issue 'to bed' once and for all.

Blasdel believes the inquest will prove the County and officials have nothing to hide in the shooting of the unarmed farm worker, who was high on meth at the time of his demise.

The inquest will be held February 23rd at a conference room at the TRAC Center in Pasco. Despite costing around $20,000 Blasdel says an inquest will provide the necessary transparency to the case which has attracted attention from all over the nation.

Since taking office in 1994, Basdel has said his philosophy is no death or similar incident will ever be swept under the rug, and this case merits the need for such an inquest. The event will not have any prosecutorial power, but will simply be a trial-like presentation of facts. IF there is sufficient evidence presented to warrant any prosecutions or legal action, it will be up to the Prosecuting Attorney to decide.

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