Philadelphia Officer Richard Mendez was murdered Thursday in a confrontation with car burglary suspects at Philadelphia International Airport.Philadelphia PD/Facebook
Yobranny Martinez Fernandez, 18, was arrested Monday by a fugitive task force. He was restrained using slain officer Richard Mendez's handcuffs.U.S. Marshals Service
An arrest has been made in the Thursday murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Mendez at the Philadelphia International Airport. A second officer was shot and wounded during the same incident.
Yobranny Martinez Fernandez, 18, of Camden County, New Jersey, is awaiting extradition back to Philadelphia, police announced Monday. Police say they received word overnight that Fernandez was in the Cherry Hill area and arrested him around 4 a.m., WHYY reports.
Philadelphia Officer Richard Mendez was murdered Thursday in a confrontation with car burglary suspects at Philadelphia International Airport.Philadelphia PD/Facebook
Mendez, a 20-year veteran of the force, died after he and another officer, 60-year-old Raul Ortiz, were shot when they confronted a group of people breaking into a vehicle late at an airport parking garage.
Mendez was reportedly shot four times. Ortiz was reportedly shot once in the arm. He was released from the hospital Saturday, 6ABC reports.
One of the suspects—Jesus Herman Madera Duran—was reportedly dumped at a hospital where he died Thursday. Police said Monday that they believe the same weapon was used to shoot both officers and Duran.
“We believe that both Ortiz and Mendez attempted to apprehend at least one of the individuals. We think, by the evidence, someone came behind (Mendez) and fired a weapon,” First Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said at a news conference Monday said, adding that it was possible Duran was hit by the shots aimed at the officer, the Associated Press reports.
Two other suspects remain at large.
Police are still investigating to determine who shot Mendez and Ortiz.
