Surveillance Video Captures Philadelphia Cop’s Airport Murder Suspect as Reward Rises to $180K
Officer Richard Mendez, 50, a 22-year veteran, was killed and Officer Raul Ortiz, 60, a 20-year veteran, was wounded when they responded to people trying to break into a car
Mark Moore’s publication has been made available and updated.
Local authorities have released surveillance video of one of the men involved in the fatal shooting of a police officer at Philadelphia International Airport, as the search for the group of suspects continues.
Around 11 p.m. on Thursday, Officer Richard Mendez, a 22-year veteran of the force, and Officer Raul Ortiz, a 20-year veteran, were on duty when they heard the sound of breaking glass. Upon investigation, they saw a group of people attempting to break into a car in the airport’s parking garage. Unfortunately, during their attempt to intervene, Officer Mendez was shot and killed.
During a news conference on Friday, Interim Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Stanford reported that Mendez was shot three times and Ortiz was hit in the arm after the police intervened and a member of the group fired at them.
According to Stanford, the impact of the incident was not limited to the victim alone as one of the suspects was also struck.
The police have released a video showing surveillance camera footage of at least one suspect involved in the shootings.
As the footage reveals, a Dodge Durango that was reported stolen in the city a week prior pulls up at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital. A man can be seen forcefully dragging someone out from the back seat of the vehicle.
Police suspect that the perpetrator behind the shooting of the officers is Jesus Herman Madera Duran, an 18-year-old man who has been identified.
On Thursday evening, Duran passed away at the hospital after being shot in the chest, abdomen, and left arm.
After being transported to nearby hospitals, the officers underwent medical treatment. Unfortunately, Mendez, who was married and had a daughter, was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes later.
On Friday, Ortiz was still in the hospital, where he is a married father of three.
On the social media platform X, Stanford expressed a range of emotions – anger, devastation, and heartbreak – following the loss of one officer’s life and the injuries of another. He urged people to offer their support to the families of the officers and the department through their prayers and comforting gestures. The search for the perpetrators will continue until all are in custody, Stanford declared with determination.
In honor of Mendez, Mayor Jim Kenney has directed for Philadelphia city flags to be flown at half-staff for the next 30 days.
X shared a heart-wrenching post mourning the loss of @PhillyPolice Officer Richard Mendez. He thanked Mendez and his family for his service and bravery on behalf of @PhiladelphiaGov. X expressed his sincere condolences and thoughts for Mendez’s loved ones and the members of PPD during this difficult time.
Merely a week after an incident where three Philadelphia police officers were injured while responding to an altercation regarding a video game, another shooting has taken place.
Initially, Philadelphia’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 and Lodge 27 in Delaware County provided a collective amount of $30,000 as a reward. However, the police unions received overwhelming support from police groups, businesses, and residents in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, resulting in multiple donations towards the reward.
The Associated Press is a well-known news agency.
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