Coroner's inquest into shooting death underway
WALLA WALLA, Wash. - "Was this necessary? Was his death necessary for breaking in," asked Cesar Chavira's uncle, Arturo Alejandre.
Those questions will be for a jury to decide. The coroner ordered a closer look into the May 4th shooting at the New York Store in Walla Walla.
At issue? Was store owner John Saul justified in shooting Cesar Chavira five times as he burglarized Saul's store. Chavira's family has awaited this inquest for months. This issue that has divided the town.
Chavira's mother, Camerna Alejandre said, "We expected something to happen in the beginning you know, we didn't get no results. They've been very very unfair with us. Sometimes, they don't want to talk about it. They just hide."
Dismissed juror David Driftmeyer told KEPR most of the town back's Saul's decision to shoot.
"I don't think there's any doubt on how this case is going to come out," he said.
Franklin County Coroner Dan Blasdel was called in to head up the inquest. It began with a chronology of the night.
The first witness was the first officer who arrived on the scene. He testified that he arrived to find the Chavira face down on Isaacs Street.
Items taken from the store were in a backpack nearby.
Most seats open to the public were filled by Chavira's family. His mother silently prayed throughout the court proceedings.
Camerna continued, "I do need justice for my son because I know he pay his mistake really bad, who's going to pay for his death."
Presentation of the evidence and witness testimony will continue through midday Thursday. The jury will then go behind closed doors to deliberate.
The jury has unlimited time to review the case and does not have to come to a unanimous decision on whether the shooting was justified. Just a majority vote is required.
Franklin County's coroner was asked to be the judge in the case because he is considered the expert in the state. He's been a part of just two other inquests in his career. That's more than anyone else.
Those questions will be for a jury to decide. The coroner ordered a closer look into the May 4th shooting at the New York Store in Walla Walla.
At issue? Was store owner John Saul justified in shooting Cesar Chavira five times as he burglarized Saul's store. Chavira's family has awaited this inquest for months. This issue that has divided the town.
Chavira's mother, Camerna Alejandre said, "We expected something to happen in the beginning you know, we didn't get no results. They've been very very unfair with us. Sometimes, they don't want to talk about it. They just hide."
Dismissed juror David Driftmeyer told KEPR most of the town back's Saul's decision to shoot.
"I don't think there's any doubt on how this case is going to come out," he said.
Franklin County Coroner Dan Blasdel was called in to head up the inquest. It began with a chronology of the night.
The first witness was the first officer who arrived on the scene. He testified that he arrived to find the Chavira face down on Isaacs Street.
Items taken from the store were in a backpack nearby.
Most seats open to the public were filled by Chavira's family. His mother silently prayed throughout the court proceedings.
Camerna continued, "I do need justice for my son because I know he pay his mistake really bad, who's going to pay for his death."
Presentation of the evidence and witness testimony will continue through midday Thursday. The jury will then go behind closed doors to deliberate.
The jury has unlimited time to review the case and does not have to come to a unanimous decision on whether the shooting was justified. Just a majority vote is required.
Franklin County's coroner was asked to be the judge in the case because he is considered the expert in the state. He's been a part of just two other inquests in his career. That's more than anyone else.
And who rides a bike to a robbery? I mean really!
"I do need justice for my son because I know he pay his mistake really bad, who's going to pay for his death."
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Really? Seriously? I cannot believe the mindset of this person. Who is going to pay for the damage the intruder did to the business owner's business? Who is going to pay to clean up the crime scene? Who is going to pay for the legal defense of the store owner? Who is going to pay for a new box of ammo? Who is going to pay for the mental trauma the store owner is going to endure? Who is going to pay for the ridiculous court proceedings? Who is going to pay for whatever loss in revenue this store has as a result of the break in and the resulting shooting?
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Everyone is going to pay for these things. Every tax payer in the state and the business owner who was defending his property will pay for the hideous actions your miserable excuse for a son committed. This planet is a better place without putrid little gang bangers like this guy. The meatsack paid with his life but as usual its is the community that will pay for his crimes.
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Only 5 times?
gang banger got just what ALL of them DESERVE_________________ DEAD!! That cures the gang problem
Why don't you at KEPR report on the criminal history of the thief who was killed. He was a known gang member. This is a slap in the face to impartial journalism.
I am so sorry for the death Cesar. But come on now if someone breaks into my home, business for any reason BREAKING INTO something not yours shows DISRESPECT for another persons livelyhood, and you are stating clearly without saying anything, "What is yours is going to be mine and for free, and so what if you had to work hard to obtain it".
That person who shows this type of disrespect, I will not wait around to see what you may or may not have in your possession. We have always been told if anyone breaks into your home shoot to kill, and I will. Now I have to worry that if I protect myself a good citizen, and a criminal confronts me inside my home or business I will need to worry about my life going through more termoil such as John Saul is facing. My god he has to sleep with the death of this person in his mind. Something no one ever dreams to have happen to them accept for serving our country in the Armed Forces.
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I really think Cesar's family is having difficulty dealing with the fact that they failed as parents, and maybe as a family. Cesar decided to begin or had already begun a life of crime. Maybe as time would have passed on his crimes would have grown and may have even climaxed into murder.
I am stating this from a view point without prejudice, but reflecting on how I was raised. I thank God my parents feed into me morals and the fear of IF I DO A CRIME I better be ready to accept the penalties, and that they would not be there for me. So it was easy to stray away from anything that would seperate me from the love and lessons and life that followed.
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