Arrest made in connection with murder of Officer Richard Mendez at PHL
PHILADELPHIA - Authorities announced the arrest of a suspect in connection to a deadly shooting at Philadelphia International Airport that killed and officer and wounded another.
Yobranny Martinez-Fernandez, 18, was taken into custody early Monday morning near Cherry Hill on murder charges in the shooting death of Officer Richard Mendez.
Police believe Martinez-Fernandez was among four suspects involved in the deadly shooting that also injured Officer Raul Ortiz and killed a suspect Jesús Hernán Madera Durán.
A massive police force responded to Philadelphia International Airport Thursday for reports of two officers shot in the parking garage near airport terminal D.
Investigators say both officers arrived for their shift at the airport when they witnessed a suspected vehicle break-in. Acting First Deputy Frank Vanore said it's believed that one of the officers attempted to apprehend a suspect when another suspect shot both officers from behind.
The suspects fled in a black Dodge Durango by ramming through an airport gate before police arrived. That Durango, according to police, dropped off Jesús Hernán Madera Durán at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Interim Commissioner John Stanford told reporter outside Penn Presbyterian Hospital that Mendez, a 22-year veteran, died from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso.
Officer Ortiz was taken to Jefferson University Hospital for treatment of a non-fatal gunshot wound to the arm and has since been released.
Philadelphia police identify officer, suspect killed in shooting at PHL; more suspects at large
Officer Richard Mendez, 50, was identified as the officer who was killed during a shooting inside a Philadelphia International Airport parking garage late Thursday night.
Police believe the two officers and the suspect who died at CHOP were shot by one of the other suspects. None of the officers are believed to have fired their weapons during the shooting.
Martinez-Fernandez was arrested using Mendez's handcuffs. His funeral will be held next Tuesday with a viewing on Monday.