THREE US police officers who shot a Mexican immigrant dead in Pasco, Washington state, for throwing stones will not face trial, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant claimed at a press conference he could not meet the high bar for criminal prosecution under Washington state law, which requires showing that the officers acted with malice and without good faith that their actions were justified.

“The officers used legal force to prevent injuries to themselves and others,” the prosecutor said. “Certainly there is no evidence of malice.”

Protesters at the press conference chanted: “Whitewash” and “This blood is on your hands.” Mr Sant answered several questions from them after making his announcement.

George Trejo, a lawyer for Mr Zambrano-Montes’s wife and children, said he was disappointed with the prosecutor.

This month, Mr Trejo filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Pasco and the three officers involved.

“We are not surprised by this decision but disgusted and disappointed. This is precisely the reason why we continually asked for an independent criminal investigation,” he said.

Unemployed fruit-picker Antonio Zambrano-Montes was killed in February after he threw stones at three police officers.

He was said to have been under the influence of drugs and was apparently suicidal, repeatedly urging police to kill him.

After the officers tried unsuccessfully to subdue him with a Taser, officer Adam Wright shot Mr Zambrano-Montes in the arm.

The officers then chased Mr Zambrano-Montes across the street where he turned to face them. The police then fired 17 shots between them, killing the man.

Mr Zambrano-Montes’s shooting sparked months of protests in the small city in the south of the state.

The Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs said it was concerned about the “dismissive nature” of the police and prosecutor in regard to the case.

“They’re saying it’s OK for the police to murder people,” one protester, Jeremy Peterson, said afterward.

Governor Jay Inslee immediately asked state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to review the charging decision, saying he would have wanted the decision reviewed whichever way it went.