LAKE JACKSON, Texas – Surveillance video obtained exclusively by KPRC 2 News shows what happened moments before a Brazoria County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed an 18-year-old Texas State University student just after midnight Monday.
The teen, identified as John Mendoza Jr., had just pulled into his father’s driveway when the shooting happened. Within eight seconds of arriving home, after the deputy’s sirens stopped, a shot can be heard on the video.
What the video shows
The footage, shared exclusively with KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry by family attorney Charles Adams, captures sirens and gunfire — but no audible commands from the deputy appear to be heard before the shot was fired.
More than 30 seconds after the shooting, audio from the video appears to capture the deputy calling it an accidental discharge over the scanner. About 10 minutes after the deputy opened fire, time stamps on the video show the first ambulance arriving on scene.
Mendoza Jr. was taken to a hospital, where he later died. He had just finished his freshman year at Texas State University.
Retired detective analysis on the video
Mark Stephens, a retired Houston Police Department detective, analyzed the video Wednesday.
“It’s very quick and it’s not unusual,” Stephens said. “One side is going to claim it’s the officer’s fault, others are going to claim it is the young man’s fault. The truth is probably going to fall somewhere in between.”
Stephens said fleeing from law enforcement in a vehicle is considered a felony, and since Mendoza pulled into the garage, he said that justifies the deputy pulling a weapon because it may have been for his own safety.
“The fact that it happened so quickly and that there were no commands before the shot was fired, and the fact that there’s allegedly a recording saying it was an accidental discharge, then that’s a good indication that’s exactly what happened,” Stephens said, also pointing to the family’s allegation that the bullet went through a rolled-up driver side window, hitting Mendoza while he remained seated in the vehicle.
“The weapon itself needs to be investigated ... and then you go from the weapon itself to the officer’s actions ... was there a justification for the officer to handle the weapon in the manner that he did,” Stephens said, adding that it’s too soon to rush to any sort of judgement.
He said the situation could be a good reminder for young people to stop when an officer tries to pull them over.
Family says son was unarmed, coming home from a park
According to the family, Mendoza Jr. had been spending time at a park with childhood friends before the shooting. A deputy began watching the group, the family said, and the friends grew uncomfortable and drove home — but the deputy followed, leading to the attempted traffic stop.
Family attorney Charles Adams says all of the people in the car were unarmed.
Mendoza Jr.’s father, John Mendoza Sr., is demanding accountability.
“This is a senseless situation that could have been avoided,” Mendoza Sr. said. “My son was murdered in his garage and this just isn’t right.”
Investigation underway; key questions unanswered
The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office has not released the name of the deputy involved, how long the deputy has been with the department, or the reason for the attempted traffic stop. The deputy is currently on administrative leave.
The Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting.
Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck released a statement Wednesday, indicating it could be months before the investigation is over and the findings will be presented to a grand jury.
“Our office extends its deepest sympathy, our thoughts and our prayers to all parties involved. We thank the community for its cooperation, understanding, and patience as we move through this process,” Selleck wrote.