A Philadelphia police officer has been charged with murder for shooting the back of a 12-year-old boy he chased after the young man was shot in his car, a city attorney said Monday.
Officer Edsaul Mendoza, 26, who was fired by police in April, was arrested Sunday and taken into custody for the death of 12-year-old Thomas Siderio in early March in a Philadelphia district in the United States. .
He was charged, among other things, of intentional killingPhiladelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement.
At a press conference, authorities detailed the circumstances of the boy’s death.
Police officer Mendoza, dressed in civilian clothes, conducted on March 1 with three other colleagues a surveillance mission in their unmarked vehicle parked in a district of Philadelphia, a city that, like many major American cities , is experiencing an increase in crime.
When Thomas Siderio and another 17 -year -old were spotted, police decided to drive around the block. When they turned on their flashing lights the 12-year-old boy fired at their vehicle, according to authorities.
Police then chased the two boys on foot, one of the officers firing aimlessly, when Mr. Mendoza shot Thomas Siderio three times, who fled.
But according to the prosecutor, who said he had video footage very hard to watchthe teenager had already lowered his gun when Officer Mendoza fired a third fatal shot.
Close to his victim, the police He knew that Thomas Siderio – 12 years old, five meters tall and weighing fifty kilograms – was unarmed and could no longer hurt him. But nonetheless, he shot it in the back and killed it.denounced Mr. Krasner.
In a press release sent by New York Timesa police union announced it confidence in the justice system to protect the constitutional rights of this official in a fair trial.
Source: Radio-Canada
