Fired Philadelphia Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Murder of 12-Year-Old Boy

A fired Philadelphia police officer, Edsaul Mendoza, pleaded guilty to murder on Friday in the shooting of a fleeing 12-year-old boy, Thomas "T.J." Siderio. Prosecutors stated that the boy was on the ground and unarmed when the fatal shot was fired. Mendoza also pleaded guilty to possession of an instrument of crime as part of a plea deal with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. The sentencing date has not been disclosed, and the Associated Press left a voicemail message for Mendoza's lawyer seeking comment.

Charges and Firing

Mendoza had initially been charged with first- and third-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter in the shooting of Siderio in March 2022. The video evidence contradicted the officer’s version of events, leading to the charges. Mendoza, a five-year veteran of the force, was fired a week after the shooting by then-Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, who stated that his conduct violated department policy.

Incident Details

The shooting occurred when Siderio, who had first fired a shot at an unmarked police car, was spotted by four plainclothes officers. Siderio threw a gun down about 40 feet before he was shot and then dropped to the ground, either tripping or obeying a command to get down, according to authorities. The officers were in an unmarked car, looking for a teenager they wanted to interview related to a firearm investigation. Prosecutors stated that almost at the same time the officers turned their red and blue lights on, a shot came through the back passenger window and ricocheted around the car, injuring one officer. Mendoza and another officer on the passenger side got out and fired one shot each, and Mendoza then chased Siderio down the block, firing twice and striking the boy once in the back from "relatively close range."

Siderio's family sued Mendoza and the city in January, alleging that his death was the result of "an abysmal systemic policy failure" within the police department.