Reason for Kennewick suspect’s death remains unclear

Blood tests are needed to figure out why a Pasco man died after a confrontation with police outside of Park Middle School on Thursday.

The Benton County Coroner’s Office will need to wait for lab tests to determine how Nicolas Garza, 27, died, said Deputy Coroner Bill Leach.

While it would normally take the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab about five months to come back with a result, Leach said he plans to send the samples to a private lab, shortening the time to about two to three weeks.

An unnamed Kennewick police officer is on paid administrative leave while the Tri-City Special Investigations Unit determines what happened on Thursday evening, said Kennewick police Sgt. Ken Lattin.

A passerby spotted Garza in front of the school around 7:25 p.m., possibly suffering from a medical condition.

Garza reportedly would not drop a knife when police arrived and an officer tried to shock him with a Taser.

It’s not clear if he was shocked but he calmed down and was taken to the hospital, where he died hours later, said officials.

This story was originally published September 29, 2018 at 12:16 PM.