By Kristin M. Kraemer
Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.)
PASCO, Wash. — Dozens of gunshots were fired in less than 45 seconds in a deadly exchange in May between two murder suspects and Pasco police.
The department on Monday released edited footage from the body-worn cameras of Detective Joshua Glass and Officer Eric Fox, showing what happened when they went to arrest the wanted cousins.
Pasco Police Chief Ken Roske introduced the 11-minute video on the department’s YouTube page, describing it as a “critical incident update” on the May 17 officer-involved shooting.
“You will hear relevant information and learn about details we know are related to this case, so you have a better understanding of what occurred,” said Roske.
An investigation into the officers’ actions is being handled by the Special Investigations Unit, or SIU, which is a regional team of detectives. There are no Pasco representatives on the team for this case.
Juan M. Montalvo, 25, was killed and Miguel A. Montalvo, 21, seriously wounded in the exchange of gunfire in an alley behind a North 12th Avenue home.
Glass and Fox were not injured.
Waiting on lab reports
Kennewick police Commander Randy Maynard, who is the lead on this investigation, said Monday that the team’s work is complete but they’re still waiting on final reports from the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory.
Those outstanding reports involve evidence that was processed by the state lab as part of the investigation.
Once received, they will be included in the full SIU report, which will be turned over to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office for review and determination if the deadly shooting was justified.
The Montalvos were wanted for an April 29 shooting at 1901 E. Lewis St.
Luis Contreras was killed, two people were wounded and two others escaped unhurt.
It was 2 1/2 weeks later when the cousins reportedly returned to the Lewis home in an apparent attempt to kill the witnesses. They shot two people, then locked a man in his trunk in a carjacking, police said.
Police surrounded home
Detectives with Pasco’s Street Crimes Unit got confirmation six hours later that the Montalvos were inside the 12th Avenue home and called for additional officers as they surrounded it at 3 p.m.
The cousins saw police outside and ran out the back of the house into an alley.
Glass was getting into position in the east half of the alley behind the home when he noticed the Montalvos come out. Fox had just pulled up in his car and was approaching Glass for an update.
The two noticed that Juan Montalvo and Miguel Montalvo each had a gun, and ordered both of them to put their hands up.
The Montalvos ignored the officers’ commands and instead opened fire, according to police and the body-cam videos.
Following the majority of gunshots, Fox said that the two suspects were down though one was still firing.
“He’s reloading, Shoot him. Shoot him, he’s reloading,” shouted Glass.
“Stop moving. Show me your hands,” Fox yelled to the suspects. “Put the gun down. Drop the gun. Jesus Christ.”
Charged in 1 shooting
A handgun was found next to each suspect, said Sgt. Rigo Pruneda.
“The use of deadly force can be traumatic for all involved,” Pruneda said on the department’s YouTube video. “Each encounter is unique and requires officers to make split-second decisions during tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving circumstances, without the benefit of hindsight.”
Miguel Montalvo is charged in Franklin County Superior Court with second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon for the first incident at the east Pasco home. Trial is Oct. 28.
He has not yet been charged with the two May 17 shootings, either at the east Pasco home again or with police in central Pasco.
©2020 Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.)