Authorities now believe everyone involved in last week’s fatal shooting at Philadelphia International Airport – which killed Police Officer Richard Mendez and injured another officer – is in custody.
Hendrick Pena-Fernandez, 21, of Pennsauken, and Alexander Bautista-Polanco, 21, of Camden, have been arrested, city officials said Wednesday. They will be charged with murder alongside 18-year-old Yobranny Martinez Fernandez, who was apprehended Monday.
A fourth man connected with the group, Jesus Herman Madera Duran, 18, died on the night of the shooting.
Mendez, 50, and Officer Raul Ortiz arrived at the airport at around 11 p.m. Oct. 12 and were set to begin their shifts when they saw several men trying to break into a car parked inside the Terminal D garage, investigators have said.
Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said detectives believe that one of the suspects opened fire from behind Mendez and Ortiz during the encounter. Those shots, investigators believe, also killed Duran.
Police have not said whether they know which of the men fired those rounds, and no gun has been recovered.
Mendez, 22-year PPD veteran, was shot four times. Ortiz, 60, was struck in his arm and released from the hospital over the weekend.
The suspects allegedly fled in a Dodge Durango, dropping Duran off outside the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore told reporters that murder and attempted murder charges have been approved for Pena-Fernandez, Batista-Polanco and Martinez Fernandez. Attorneys for the three men could not be identified through court records Wednesday.
“I’m very confident in this particular case in the forensics and the technology that was used,” Pescatore said. “These people all knew each other. They were together. We have proof of that.”
Officers showed up to Pena-Fernandez’s house Wednesday morning to arrest him, but he was not there, Vanore said. Investigators spoke to people who helped locate him, and homicide detectives, along with New Jersey State Police, later apprehended Pena-Fernandez, according to police.
The U.S. Marshals arrested Batista-Polanco on Tuesday in New Jersey, authorities said. Court records show that prosecutors issued a warrant for him earlier this month relating to an April burglary in Scranton, and Vanore said Batista-Polanco also has an active case in New Jersey.
“It’s not saying that we’re done with our investigation,” Vanore said at a news conference. “We’re going to keep going. There are people that assisted these individuals. There’s people that tried to obstruct us from finding them.”
City Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, who knew Mendez, read a statement from his family Wednesday that said they are “relieved and grateful that progress for justice for Ritchie has been made.”
“As a family, we are grieving and are facing personal trauma through this murder, as are the officers who worked with Richie,” she continued. “Even though we’re experiencing hurt and anger, there is some solace in knowing justice is being carried out.”
Mendez had a master’s degree in business and earned more than 67 certifications and commendations during his career in the police department, according to his obituary. He is survived by his wife, Alexandra Carrero, and daughter, Mia Carrero.
His viewing is scheduled for Monday night in Northeast Philadelphia, with a funeral service the following day at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.
