Moment Philadelphia ‘police killers’ drive stolen car into emergency at Children’s Hospital to drop off wounded accomplice, 18, then speed off
Surveillance footage shows the shocking moment the suspected killers of a Philadelphia police officer drove a stolen car into the emergency area at Children’s Hospital to drop off a wounded accomplice.
Philadelphia police on Friday released video footage of suspects connected to the shooting at Philadelphia International Airport that killed one police officer and injured another.
Officer Richard Mendez, 50, was killed by multiple shots, and Officer Raul Ortiz, 60, was shot once in the arm at Terminal D’s airport parking garage as they were just arriving for work around 11:00 p.m. Thursday.
Mendez and Ortiz saw a group of suspects breaking into another car. When they interrupted and confronted the suspected car thieves, at least two suspects pulled out guns and fired several shots.
Jesus Herman Madera Duran (18) was then seen driving his co-workers and was dropped off on the floor of a parking garage at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was later pronounced dead.
Jesus Herman Madera Duran (18) was driven and dropped off by his co-workers on the floor of a parking garage at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was later pronounced dead
Philadelphia police on Friday released video footage of suspects connected to the Philadelphia International Airport shooting that killed one police officer and wounded another
Officer Richard Mendez, 50, was killed by multiple gunshots after he interrupted and confronted the suspected car thieves.
Mendez was pronounced dead at Presbyterian Medical Center at 11:34 p.m. Thursday. Ortiz was shot once in the arm and remained in stable condition at the hospital Friday.
“It’s devastating for this city to know that this is the type of behavior that’s occurring,” Interim Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Stanford said at a Friday news conference.
“The type of individuals that are out there on the street to take someone’s life over a vehicle that didn’t belong to them,” he said.
The suspected shooters fled the scene in a black 2022 Dodge Durango with a blank license plate reading ‘PLUSTAX’, which had been reported stolen in the city about a week ago.
The suspects dropped off 18-year-old Duran, who was believed to be involved in the shooting, authorities said at the news conference.
Duran was shot in the chest, abdomen and left arm and was pronounced dead at around 11.30pm on Thursday.
A group of suspects were breaking into another car. At least two suspects pulled out guns and fired multiple shots when officers interrupted and confronted them
The suspected shooters fled the scene in a black 2022 Dodge Durango with a blank license plate reading ‘PLUSTAX’
Mendez, a 22-year veteran of the force, was killed three days before he celebrated his 23 years on the force. He was survived by his wife and one daughter.
Ortiz, 60, is a 20-year veteran of the department. He is married with three children.
Mendez’s gun has not been located, Stanford said. It is not known if anyone fired the weapon during the confrontation at the garage. And it is unclear how many of the suspects fired weapons.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said law enforcement personnel lack the ability to match crime scene ballistics to firearms through a database of gun sales, citing a lack of gun regulation.
Pennsylvania state law prevents law enforcement and government agencies from keeping firearms registries.
The shooting came a week after three Philadelphia police officers were shot and wounded while responding to a call.
“A numbing moment for us to come across something like this again,” Stanford said. Members of the Philadelphia Police Department were visibly emotional before the march for the fallen officer.
“So you can imagine how we feel,” he said. “You can imagine what this department is going through, and honestly how this city must feel to know that this is happening.
“Two of the men who served them for over twenty years and finally one who tonight gave his life for the city of Philadelphia,” he added.
The slain officer’s body was transported from the medical examiner’s office to a funeral home
Members of the Philadelphia Police Department were visibly emotional before the march for the fallen officer
Mendez’s body was draped in an American flag as it was escorted to the medical examiner’s office at Philadelphia police headquarters. He was later transported from the office to a funeral home.
“I saw more tears last night than I’ve ever seen in all my years here,” Lodge 5 President John McNesby said.
He called the two officers ‘outstanding’ and the loss was a difficult one for colleagues and the department.
McNesby also said the city’s police force is “understaffed” and criticized the district attorney’s office for not prosecuting violent offenders.
“It sends a message that they can do whatever they want,” he said.
President Joe Biden, who was in Philadelphia on Friday, expressed his condolences to the families of the officers.
“They put their lives on the line to protect this community,” he said.
A $148,500 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest. That would be in addition to a $20,000 reward the city has offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.