LAKE JACKSON, Texas – Surveillance video obtained exclusively by KPRC 2 News shows what happened moments before a Brazoria County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed an 18-year-old Texas State University student just after midnight Monday.
The teen, identified as John Mendoza Jr., had just pulled into his father’s driveway when the shooting happened. Within eight seconds of arriving home, after the deputy’s sirens stopped, a shot can be heard on the video.
What the video shows
The footage, shared exclusively with KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry by family attorney Charles Adams, captures sirens and gunfire — but no audible commands from the deputy appear to be heard before the shot was fired.
More than 30 seconds after the shooting, audio from the video appears to capture the deputy calling it an accidental discharge over the scanner. About 10 minutes after the deputy opened fire, time stamps on the video show the first ambulance arriving on scene.
Mendoza Jr. was taken to a hospital, where he later died. He had just finished his freshman year at Texas State University.
Family says son was unarmed, coming home from a park
According to the family, Mendoza Jr. had been spending time at a park with childhood friends before the shooting. A deputy began watching the group, the family said, and the friends grew uncomfortable and drove home — but the deputy followed, leading to the attempted traffic stop.
Family attorney Charles Adams says all of the people in the car were unarmed.
Mendoza Jr.’s father, John Mendoza Sr., is demanding accountability.
“This is a senseless situation that could have been avoided,” Mendoza Sr. said. “My son was murdered in his garage and this just isn’t right.”
Investigation underway; key questions unanswered
The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office has not released the name of the deputy involved, how long the deputy has been with the department, or the reason for the attempted traffic stop. The deputy is currently on administrative leave.
The Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting.