PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia jury has reached a verdict in the murder trial of two men charged in the killing of Philadelphia Police Sgt. Richard Mendez, who was fatally shot while trying to stop a car theft at Philadelphia International Airport in October 2023.
What we know:
Prosecutors said Yobrani Martinez Fernandez and Hendrick Pino Fernandez were part of a group stealing a Jeep in an airport parking garage when Sgt. Mendez and his partner, Officer Raul Ortiz, confronted them. Mendez was shot and killed, and Ortiz was injured before the suspects fled.
The two men were later arrested and charged with murder, robbery and related offenses. The trial, which began earlier this month, included testimony from police investigators and forensic experts who detailed the chaotic scene that night.
The trial and verdict
After days of deliberation, the jury found Yobranny Martinez Fernandez guilty of first-degree murder of Sgt. Mendez, as well as multiple related charges, including second- and third-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and firearm offenses. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, with an additional 25 to 50 years.
He was acquitted of one count of assaulting a law enforcement officer involving Mendez’s partner, Officer Raul Ortiz, who survived the shooting.
Hendrick Pino Fernandez was found guilty of second-degree murder in Sgt. Mendez’s death but not guilty of first-degree and third-degree murder on that count. He was also convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery, theft and weapons offenses. He was sentences to life without the possibility of parole.
Both men were tried together in the high-profile case that began with a car theft in an airport garage that turned deadly.
Both convictions, first-degree murder for Jobranny Martinez Fernandez and second-degree murder for Hendrick Pino Fernandez, carry mandatory life sentences under Pennsylvania law.
The backstory
Prosecutors said the two men were part of a group stealing a Dodge Charger and Jeep when Sgt. Mendez and Officer Ortiz confronted them inside the Terminal D garage. Mendez was shot and killed; Ortiz was wounded.
The shooting set off a massive manhunt and led to widespread tributes for Sgt. Mendez, a 22-year veteran of the department remembered for his dedication and leadership.
Richard Mendez (Philadelphia Police Department)
What they’re saying:
The wife of Sergeant Mendez, Alexandra Carrero, hugged Assistant District Attorney Cydney Pope outside the Criminal Justice Center, after nearly two weeks in court led to the verdict she says she hoped for.
“He was the love of my life, my soul mate, I have to live the rest of my life without him,” she said. “Nothing is going to return my husband back to us, but today justice was served.”
Her daughter, Mia, was wearing the badge Sergeant Mendez wore the night he died.
“That’s just another kind of reminder of what happened, how it affected me, how I’ll grow from it for sure, but how much I miss my dad,” she said.
ADA Pope applauded the jury’s verdict, saying while there was an unbelievable amount of evidence in the case, they had no independent direct evidence, such as surveillance video, that directly captured what happened.
“This was a nuanced verdict where they didn’t just go down the line and say you’re guilty of all these charges, they took their time did the work, and evaluated what each defendant was guilty of,” she said.
Officers packed the courtroom every day in support of Mendez’ family. Commissioner Kevin Bethel also came to support them as much as possible.
“Today was indication that this work matters, that when these men and women who get up and give their lives to this job, at the end, that their life mattered, that this jury saw that their lives mattered,” he said.
What’s next:
Both defendants remain in custody and are awaiting sentencing. Sentencing dates have not yet been announced.
The case was prosecuted by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department.
The Source: This article is based on information from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and official court hearings.