Home / Crime and Justice / Deputy Fired After Fatal Shooting of Freshman
Deputy Fired After Fatal Shooting of Freshman
12 Jun
Summary
- Deputy Kevin Tippit fired for firearm policy violations.
- John Mendoza Jr., 18, died after a traffic stop attempt.
- Texas Rangers investigate the fatal shooting of the student.
A Texas deputy, Kevin Tippit, was terminated on June 9 following an internal investigation into policy violations concerning firearm handling and discharge. This decision came after the June 1 shooting death of John Mendoza Jr., an 18-year-old college freshman. The shooting occurred near Lake Jackson after a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle. Mendoza drove to his father's home, where he was shot and later died at a hospital.
The Texas Rangers and the Brazoria County District Attorney's Office are leading the criminal investigation, with the case expected to be presented to a grand jury. Mendoza's family attorney has urged authorities to arrest Tippit, release body-camera and dash-camera footage, and has stated that witnesses reported Mendoza was unarmed and raised his hands before the shooting.
Sheriff Bo Stallman emphasized that his decision to fire Tippit was independent of the criminal investigation. Mendoza, a student at Texas State University and former high school football player, had returned home for the summer. His father described him as having "so much life ahead of him" and being a "beautiful spirit."
