Person arrested in connection with killing of Philadelphia police officer identified
The suspect, identified by police as Yobranny Martinez Fernandez, was arrested around 4 a.m. Monday in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- An arrest has been made in connection with the killing of a Philadelphia police officer last week in a parking garage at Philadelphia International Airport.
Ofc. Richard Mendez, 50, died after he and another officer, 60-year-old Raul Ortiz, confronted several people breaking into a vehicle late Thursday night.
Mendez, who had been on the force for more than 20 years, was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The person arrested has been identified as 18-year-old Yobranny Martinez Fernandez of Camden County, New Jersey.
Philadelphia Police Interim First Dep. Commissioner Frank Vanore said in a Monday afternoon news conference that authorities received information around 2 a.m. that Fernandez was in the area of Cherry Hill.
Then, around 4 a.m., the U.S. Marshals, the FBI, New Jersey State Police and the Philadelphia Police Homicide Division moved in to make the arrest at the Days Inn on Route 38.
Vanore said Mendez's handcuffs were used during the arrest.
Fernandez is currently in custody in New Jersey and is awaiting extradition back to Philadelphia.
Vanore said it's not yet clear who pulled the trigger. He said police are looking for at least two more people.
Ortiz, a 20-year veteran of the force, was shot in the arm and was released from the hospital on Saturday.
Authorities said the suspects fled in an SUV reported stolen a week ago that was later seen at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia dropping off 18-year-old Jesus Herman Madera Duran, who authorities say was believed to be involved in the confrontation with the officers.
Duran had been shot in the chest, abdomen and left arm and was pronounced dead around 11:30 p.m. Thursday.
Police said Monday that they believe the same weapon was used to shoot both officers and Duran.
Meanwhile, the slain officer's gun has not been located and it wasn't immediately known whether anyone fired it, Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford said.
Police are looking into leads that these suspects had a history of stealing cars across state lines.
"This group here, as Deputy Commissioner Vanore alluded to, they were doing work in Jersey, not all in the city, but some related in the city," said Stanford.
Over the weekend, Action News learned a black Dodge Charger was found in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood. Officials believe it is connected to the suspects involved in the shooting and is linked to the case.
Officer Mendez will be memorialized next Monday with a funeral set for next Tuesday.
The reward for information leading to an arrest stands at $244,000.
