Sentencing and Plea Deal
A former Philadelphia police officer, Edsaul Mendoza, has been sentenced to 8 to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree murder in the shooting of a 12-year-old boy, Thomas “T.J.” Siderio. Mendoza, a five-year veteran of the force, expressed sorrow and regret in court before receiving his sentence on Monday. Initially charged with first- and third-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, Mendoza agreed to a plea deal in April.
Details of the Incident
The tragic event occurred in 2022, when Mendoza fired a fatal shot into the back of the fleeing 12-year-old. Prosecutors revealed that Siderio was on the ground and unarmed when Mendoza shot him. Prior to this, the boy had fired a shot at an unmarked police car, injuring one of the four plainclothes officers inside. According to authorities, Siderio threw his gun down about 40 feet away before he was shot and then either tripped or dropped to the ground.
Contradictory Statements and Surveillance Footage
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner stated that surveillance video contradicted some of Mendoza’s statements. Mendoza had claimed that the boy pointed a gun at him and that he was standing in the street when he fired. However, the video showed Mendoza standing almost over Siderio on the sidewalk when he shot him, as per the information presented to a grand jury.
Police Operation and Initial Encounter
The incident began when four officers, in an unmarked car, were looking for a teenager involved in a firearm investigation. They saw Siderio and an unnamed 17-year-old, maneuvered the car around the block, and initiated a stop by turning on their red and blue lights. Almost simultaneously, a shot came through the back passenger window, injuring one officer with broken glass.
The Pursuit and Fatal Shot
Mendoza and another officer on the passenger side exited the vehicle and each fired a shot. Mendoza then chased Siderio down the block, firing two more shots and hitting the boy once in the back at close range, according to prosecutors.
