PO Richard Mendez
Officer: Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Mendez
Date: 10/12/2023 Location: Philadelphia, PA FACTORS (1,2,7,8,15,21)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Hendrick Peña-Fernández; Alexander Batista-Polanco; Yobranny Martínez Fernández; Jesús Hernán Madera Durán
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, “Batista-Polanco had open warrants in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.” / Yes, the four perpetrators were breaking into vehicles.
Mental Illness: None stated.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.
Race/Sex/Age: Latino/Male/21; Latino/Male/21; Latino/Male/18; Latino/Male/18
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 11 p.m. on October 12, 2012, while starting their shift at Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia Police Officer’s Richard Mendez and Raul Ortiz observed several men breaking into a vehicle in the parking garage. Observing a crime being committed, the officers took police action and confronted the perpetrators now known to be Hendrick Peña-Fernández; Alexander Batista-Polanco; Yobranny Martínez Fernández; Jesús Hernán Madera Durán.
Actions taken by subject toward police: As the officers approached, three of the perpetrators pulled out firearms and shot at them, fatally hitting PO Mendez and wounding PO Ortiz. The perpetrators also fatally shot one of their own, Jesús Hernán Madera Durán by mistake. They fled the scene in a stolen Dodge Durango, dropped off Duran at a local hospital where he was declared dead, and then fled the area.
Reactions by the police: PO Ortiz was rushed to the hospital and treated for his wounds. A multi-jurisdictional manhunt tracked down and arrested Fernández on October 16th and both Peña-Fernández and Batista-Polanco on October 18th.
How murdered? PO Mendez was ambushed from behind while investigating a crime in progress observed while preparing for his shift.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Though outnumbered, the officers bravely attempted to thwart a crime in progress.
Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? The officers were ambushed from behind and never had a chance to fire their weapon.
Outcome for the cop-killer: All three of the remaining perpetrators were eventually caught, arrested, and face multiple charges including murder, attempt to commit criminal homicide of law enforcement officer, criminal homicide of law enforcement officer, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, assault of law enforcement officer, and robbery.
