Officials announced an arrest in the shooting death of Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Mendez during a Monday afternoon press conference.
What to Know
- Philadelphia police say they have arrested Yobranny Martínez Fernández, 18, in connection to the airport parking garage shooting that killed one officer and wounded another last week.
- Officer Richard Mendez died in the Oct. 12, 2023 shooting. Officer Raúl Ortíz was injured.
- Police believe Mendez was killed as 'someone came behind him' during the shooting incident last week.
Law enforcement officials have arrested a teenager in the slaying of Philadelphia Police officer Richard Mendez, several days after the officer was shot to death in a parking lot at Philadelphia International Airport.
But, during a press event held Monday afternoon, Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said at least two others are still being sought.
Vanore said that at about 2 a.m. Monday, officials received information that an individual named Yobranny Martínez Fernández, 18, of Camden County, was involved in the incident and that he was located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
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Vanore said that the U.S. Marshals, the FBI, NJ state troopers and Philadelphia Police were able to apprehend Fernandez at the Days Inn on Rt. 38 around 4 a.m. Investigators used Officer Mendez's handcuffs to arrest the teen, according to police.
Fernández appeared at an extradition hearing on Tuesday. He is currently being held at the Camden County Jail as he awaits extradition back to Philadelphia.
“We believe that individual participated in the theft of the vehicle and was subsequently involved in the shooting homicides of Officer Ortiz, Officer Mendez, as well as the individual that was with them, Jesús Durán," Vanore said.
Officer Mendez slain in PHL parking lot
Officer Mendez, 50, was killed in a shooting that took place on Thursday at about 11 p.m. just as he -- and fellow officer Raúl Ortíz -- arrived at a parking lot for terminals D and E at the Philadelphia International Airport to begin their shifts.
As the officers walked through the lot to head into work, they heard the sound of breaking glass, according to investigators. Officials said they then spotted a group of at least four people breaking into a vehicle inside the parking garage.
When the officers confronted the group, gunfire erupted. Mendez, a 22-year veteran of the police department, was shot multiple times in the upper torso while Ortíz was shot in the arm.
One of the suspects, later identified as 18-year-old Jesús Hernán Madera Durán of Camden, New Jersey, was also shot, investigators said.
Police believe Mendez was attacked from behind and that the shooter was one of the three other suspects.
“We believe that one of these accomplices was responsible for firing a firearm which shot all three of these individuals," Vanore said.
Investigators have not yet revealed whether Fernández was the one who fired the shots or one of the other suspects who remain at large.
Mendez was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Ortíz was released from the hospital on Saturday.
Police officials also said that Mendez's gun remains missing following the shooting and that they don't believe either officer fired their weapons during the incident.
Teen left to die outside West Philly hospital
After the shooting, police released video of a Dodge Durango -- that had been reported stolen -- dropping off the wounded Durán in the parking lot of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on the night of the incident.
Durán died of gunshot wounds at the hospital at about 11:37 p.m. that night.
Law enforcement officials said that they believe at least four individuals -- including Durán and Fernández -- fled from the shooting in that Dodge Durango.
A few hours later, at about 1:30 a.m. Friday, police in South Brunswick, New Jersey, found that Durango when they responded to a vehicle fire.
The vehicle had a tracking device inside of it, which was recovered on I-95 and Academy Road in Philadelphia on Friday, according to investigators.
Police also recovered a second vehicle that they believe may be tied to this shooting on the 3700 block of L Street in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood on Saturday night.
The recovery of these vehicles highlights an issue that has been ongoing at the Philadelphia International Airport for some time -- armed gunmen have been stepping up thefts of vehicles from there.
Cars in airport lots targeted by armed gunmen
Following an investigation that began in January, police officials reported in June that approximately 35 thefts and five armed robberies occurred at car rental agencies at the airport.
Over the course of this time, these rental agencies stepped up security measures to deter thieves, only for armed gunmen to grow more brazzen -- even stealing vehicles by holding a booth operator at a lot at gunpoint in at least one incident.
In those crimes, officials said the thieves appeared to be teens or young men between the ages of 17 and 23.
Since then, officials have only arrested three people in these ongoing thefts from lots near the airport.
In Monday's press conference, Interim Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Stanford said that police are still investigating whether Mendez's shooting and this string of stolen vehicles were connected.
"Don’t want to get too much into that, but obviously we are aware that there’s a bigger issue,” he said.
'Family was his number one priority'
Philadelphia Councilmember Quetcy Lozada said during the press conference she was a friend of both officers and met with Mendez’s family Monday afternoon. She read a statement on the family’s behalf.
“We appreciate the people for reaching out and we are grateful for the overwhelming amount of support we’ve received. But at this time we’re asking for you to please allow us time to grieve,” she said.
“Richie was a great man who was loved by many and we will continue to love him through the memories we have of him. He was an upstanding family man. Family was his number one priority. As a son, husband and father, his daughter Mia was his pride and joy along with his wife, Alexandra. To his family, he was the person everyone went to when they didn’t know what to do. Richie’s response was always, ‘We will figure it out together.’ The officers who worked with him will tell you that he was an asset to the police force. Richie Mendez led by example. He never complained and always was willing to help. No matter what the assignment, he showed up ready and with a positive attitude.
He received his Master’s Degree in 2019 and had plans to become a college professor after retiring. Mia is currently in college and will be sure to make her dad proud. Once again from the family, we appreciate your love and support.
Mia, Alexandra and family.”
Reward grows exponentially
Police continue to search for at least two other suspects in connection to the shooting. They have not yet released descriptions of them.
In the days since Mendez's death, a reward for information that would lead to the arrest of those responsible has grown to $244,900.
The sum increased from an initial $50,000 offered by the city along with Philadelphia’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 and Lodge 27 in Delaware County to more than $200,000 due to continued contributions from other police organizations, unions and local businesses.
Stanford said that Mendez's funeral will be held next Tuesday with a viewing on Monday.
"It's going to be a pretty somber mood, I would say, for the next few weeks," said Stanford.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
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