Edsaul Mendonza: TJ Siderio's family slams dropped charges as ex-cop pleads guilty to killing 12-year-old

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES: A former Philadelphia police officer pleaded guilty to third-degree murder of a 12-year-old boy who was running away.

Prosecutors said the boy was unarmed and lying on the ground when Edsaul Mendoza shot him. Mendoza also admitted to having a weapon during the incident as per NBC.

As part of a plea deal with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Mendoza also admitted guilt to possession of an instrument of crime.

A date for Mendoza's punishment hasn't been set yet. He was facing charges of first and third-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter for shooting Thomas “TJ” Siderio in March 2022. 

Siderio family disappointed with plea deal

The Siderio family expressed their disappointment with the plea deal on Friday, emphasizing their desire for the original charge of first-degree murder to remain.

"It's heartbreaking, it's earth-shattering, it's devastating. They got it wrong. He should be held to a higher standard than you and I," said the boy's aunt, Joanne Payne. "We cannot stand over a child on a city street and shoot them. TJ was on the ground, face down, unarmed. The threat was eliminated."

While prosecutors acknowledged that not all family members were satisfied with the plea deal, they affirmed that they had considered their input.

What did Edsaul Mendoza's lawyer claim?

Mendoza's lawyer, Charles Gibbs, said, "I can't make a statement right now" during the hearing.

Mendoza worked as a police officer for five years before being fired by then-Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, who said he broke department rules. 

Thomas "TJ" Siderio dropped a gun and then fell to the ground before he was shot.

Police were searching for a teenager related to a gun investigation when they saw Siderio and another person. They turned on their car lights, and a shot hit the car. 

Mendoza and another officer fired one shot each from the car. Mendoza then chased Siderio, shooting him once in the back. 

Siderio's family sued Mendoza and the city in January, saying his death was the result of problems within the police department.

What did the prosecutor report?

Evidence shown to the grand jury revealed that Mendoza shot at Siderio three times after the boy possibly fired a gun at an unmarked police car, making three plainclothes officers take cover, as per Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. 

Mendoza fired these shots during a chase, which Krasner described as "tactically unsound." 

The boy threw his gun around the time of the second shot from Mendoza's gun as per NBC.

When Mendoza fired the third shot, Siderio was very close to him and lying facedown on the ground. It wasn't clear if the boy fell or jumped to the ground just before he was fatally shot, said Krasner. 

Evidence suggested Siderio might have been turning toward Mendoza to surrender before he was killed, Krasner added. 

Mendoza knew the 12-year-old, who was 5 feet tall and weighed 111 pounds, no longer had a gun and even told another officer where the weapon was after the shooting, as per Krasner. 

Krasner mentioned there is video footage of the shooting but didn't provide further details. Krasner also said it wasn't clear why the plainclothes officers stopped the boys in the first place, as officers gave conflicting accounts to the grand jury. 

Given the situation, Siderio and the other boy might not have realized they were dealing with police, Krasner said. 

Mendoza also made false statements about where he fired the second and third shots, according to Krasner.