By Jack Tomczuk
Two men are set to spend the rest of their lives behind bars after they were convicted of murder earlier this week for the killing of Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Mendez two years ago.
Mendez, a 50-year-old father of two, was fatally shot Oct. 12, 2023, while interrupting a group of men who were attempting to steal cars inside a parking garage at Philadelphia International Airport. His partner, Officer Raul Ortiz, was injured.
Yobranny Martinez-Fernandez, 20, and Hendrick Peña-Fernandez, 23, both of Camden County, were each sentenced to life in prison without parole following a jury trial that concluded Monday. Martinez-Fernandez, who authorities say fired the deadly shots, received an additional term of 25 to 50 years.
“Nothing will return my husband back to us, but today justice was served,” Alexandra Carerro, Mendez’s wife, said in a statement Monday. “My husband was an amazing human being, and did not deserve to lose his life the way he did.”
Two other men – Jesús Hernán Madera Durán and Alexander Batista-Polanco – were with Martinez-Fernandez and Peña-Fernandez.
Batista-Polanco reportedly pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, a lesser charge, shortly before the trial and testified for the prosecution. Durán, 18, was struck by Martinez-Fernandez’s gunfire and died of his injuries.
Law enforcement officials said the group dropped Durán at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia before driving to New Jersey and torching the getaway car at an abandoned warehouse.
Mendez served as an officer in the Philadelphia Police Department for 22 years.
“This jury saw that [officers’] lives matter. We know the pain never goes away,” Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said in a statement. “We will continue to honor Officer Mendez and his legacy by doing the work.”
Keywords
Philadelphia Police Officer,
Richard Mendez,
Philadelphia Police Department