Brazoria County deputy shoots, kills 18-year-old man in Lake Jackson
Brazoria County deputy shoots, kills teen in Lake Jackson
A Brazoria County sheriff's deputy was placed on leave after their involvement in a deadly shooting in Lake Jackson early Monday morning.
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - A Brazoria County sheriff's deputy was placed on leave after a deadly shooting in Lake Jackson.
John Mendoza Jr., 18, was killed in the shooting early Monday morning.
Courtesy of OnScene TV Houston
What we know:
The sheriff's office reported the incident began as a traffic stop near FM 2004 and This Way Street around 12:09 a.m.
According to officials, the vehicle did not stop and led the deputy on a brief chase. It came to an end when the vehicle went inside the attached garage of a home on Indian Warrior Trail, officials said.
The sheriff's office says when the deputy encountered the driver, the deputy shot him. The driver, Mendoza, was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
What they're saying:
Charles Adams, the attorney for Mendoza's family, says that before the shooting, Mendoza and two friends had been playing basketball.
Afterward, they reportedly went back to one of the teens' homes, and then decided to walk a nearby track. The attorney claims the teens were being watched by police, so they decided to leave in Mendoza's car.
What's next:
In accordance with Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office policy, the involved deputy will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Texas Rangers will be assisting the investigation along with the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office and Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office.
What we don't know:
Officials did not say what the initial traffic stop was for.
The Source: The Brazoria County Sheriff's Office issued a press release. FOX 26 also interviewed Charles Adams, the attorney for Mendoza's family. Adams is also a FOX 26 contributor.