Police Officer Richard Mendez was shot and killed at the Philadelphia International Airport parking garage D around 11:00 p.m.
Officer Mendez and his partner arrived in the parking garage, preparing to start their shift, when they heard glass shattering. They observed subjects breaking into a vehicle. As they approached, the subjects fired at them. Officer Mendez was struck multiple times. His partner was shot in the arm.
Officer Mendez was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he succumbed to his wounds at 11:34 p.m.
The suspects fled in a stolen vehicle. One of the suspects, who died from gunshot wounds, was dropped off at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The rest of the suspects have not been apprehended.
Officer Mendez had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for almost 23 years, assigned to the airport unit. He is survived by his wife and daughter.