A killing in Texas

https://betoorourke.substack.com/p/a-killing-in-texas

Earlier this week 18-year-old John Mendoza Jr. was shot and killed by a Brazoria County sheriff’s deputy. According to the Mendoza family attorney, John had just returned from his freshman year at Texas State and was exercising in a park near his home with three friends late Monday night. The boys noticed law enforcement observing them, and feeling uncomfortable, left the park in Mendoza’s car.

The sheriff’s deputy who had been watching them at the park followed their car and then attempted to initiate a traffic stop. It is unclear why. The boys, scared and confused by the actions of the deputy, chose to drive to Mendoza’s home where they hoped his father would help them resolve the issue with the deputy.

Mendoza pulled into his garage and the sheriff’s deputy pulled in behind him, at which point the deputy exited his car, walked up to the driver’s side door of Mendoza’s vehicle and shot him through the closed window. It took about ten minutes before paramedics arrived on the scene. Mendoza was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Neighbors’ surveillance cameras capture the video of Mendoza driving down his street towards his home, with the deputy close behind. Because the range of the camera does not include Mendoza’s house, after the cars pass we are only able to hear the audio which demonstrates that after the deputy cuts his siren there is silence for 8 seconds before a single shot is fired. There is no audible warning or command given to Mendoza in those 8 seconds.

I should add that neither Mendoza nor his three friends were armed.

*snip*