A passerby found Garza in "medical distress" around 7:26 p.m. outside of Park Middle School. Police said Garza displayed "abnormal behavior," so dispatchers also sent an officer with medics. After Officer Jair Ealy-Thomas saw a knife near Garza, he ordered him to step back. When Garza didn't comply with orders, Ealy-Thomas shocked him with a Taser. Garza was taken to Trios Southridge Hospital, where he died hours later.
Victim's Name: Nicholas Jesus Garza
Agency Responsible: Kennewick Police Department
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Race: Unknown race
Date of Death: September 27, 2018
County: Benton
Cause of Death: Taser
Official Disposition: Justified by internal review
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Yes
Armed: Unarmed/Did Not Have an Actual Weapon
Weapon: unarmed
Geography: Suburban