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Jury Convicts Two in 2023 Killing of Philadelphia Officer Richard Mendez

The verdict followed a case anchored by cell data, video, DNA, plus a cooperating accomplice.

Overview

  • Yobranny Martinez-Fernandez was found guilty of first-degree murder, and Hendrick Pena-Fernandez was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting at Philadelphia International Airport.
  • Both defendants face mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole under Pennsylvania law.
  • Prosecutors said Sgt. Richard Mendez was shot while confronting an attempted car theft in Garage D as Martinez-Fernandez fired from inside a vehicle, and Officer Raul Ortiz was wounded but survived.
  • Jurors heard evidence that included cell-tower records, surveillance and drone footage, recovered DNA, and testimony from an accomplice who pleaded to lesser charges.
  • Deliberations were restarted twice after a juror medical emergency and a subsequent dismissal, and the panel also returned verdicts on related robbery, theft and firearms counts while acquitting Martinez-Fernandez on one assault charge tied to Ortiz.