Former US police officer charged with murder in death of 12-year-old

Following a foot chase in early March, a former Philadelphia police officer was charged with murder for fatally shooting a 12-year-old kid in the head.

According to authorities, Edsaul Mendoza, 26, led Thomas “TJ” Siderio on a “tactically unsound” foot chase before shooting him while knowing he was unarmed.

Police suspected a buddy of his was engaged in a firearm theft.

On Sunday, Mr. Mendoza was apprehended.

According to a factual presentation published by the District Attorney of Philadelphia, Mr Mendoza was one of four plainclothes police who met Siderio and a 17-year-old acquaintance – designated in court records as “NK” – on March 1. Officers suspected NK was “tangentially tied” to a stolen weapon inquiry.

When they tried to stop the boys, “a shot went off” and broke a rear passenger window, according to the presentment. When the lads attempted to run, Mr. Mendoza pursued Siderio and fired three shots at him.

The third shot, according to the affidavit, was fired despite Mr. Mendoza’s knowledge that Siderio’s firearm had been dropped some 40 feet (12 meters) away. Siderio had come to a halt when the final shot was fired.

“Thus, when Mendoza fired the third and fatal shot, he knew the 12-year-old, five-foot-tall, 111-pound Thomas Siderio no longer had a gun and no ability to harm him,” Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner told reporters on Monday.

“But he fired a shot through his back nonetheless, killing him.”

Mr. Mendoza was sacked by the police department shortly after the event, with the police commissioner claiming that the agency’s use-of-force regulations had been breached.

Much of the evidence against Mr. Mendoza, according to Mr. Krasner, derives from video footage of the incident, which will not be revealed until a judge orders it. He called the footage “disturbing to see” and said Siderio was “basically face down on the pavement” and perhaps surrendering.

Mr. Mendoza was apprehended on Sunday and is being jailed without bail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 16th.

On Monday, he was defended by a public defender who could not be reached. A local organization of the Fraternal Order of Police has recently said that it will give him legal representation.

Mary Siderio, Siderio’s great-grandmother, was described by a local CBS affiliate as saying she was “glad” to learn of Mr. Mendoza’s claims.

“I’m so heartbroken, I can’t sleep,” she said. “None of us can sleep. It’s horrible.”

For the latest International News Follow BOL News on Google News. Read more on Latest International News on oldsite.bolnews.com