Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Mendez, a dedicated member of the force for 23 years, was tragically killed in the line of duty on Thursday night. Mendez, 50, was shot multiple times as he and another officer responded to a car break-in inside the parking garage at Philadelphia International Airport. The incident occurred as the officers were arriving for their shifts.

According to Interim Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Stanford, Mendez and his colleague heard glass shattering and attempted to intervene in the break-in involving three or four individuals. The intervention quickly turned into a confrontation with one suspect, who opened fire on the officers. Mendez was struck multiple times, while the other officer, Raul Ortiz, 60, was wounded in the arm. Both officers were rushed to different hospitals, where Mendez was pronounced dead. Ortiz is currently listed in stable condition.

Mendez's tragic death occurred just three days before he was set to celebrate his 23rd anniversary with the police force. He leaves behind a wife and daughter, and his loss has deeply impacted the entire Philadelphia community. During a press conference, Commissioner Stanford described the incident as a "devastating incident" and expressed his sorrow for the city.

The suspect responsible for Mendez's death, identified as 18-year-old Jesus Herman Madera-Duran, managed to flee the scene in a stolen black Dodge Durango before responding officers arrived. However, a short time later, the vehicle arrived at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where it dropped off Madera-Duran, who was wounded. Interim Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore stated that investigators have not yet confirmed whether Madera-Duran was the shooter or how he sustained his injuries. They are also working to identify up to three additional suspects.

Authorities released video footage of at least one suspect dropping off Madera-Duran at the hospital. The video shows the suspect parking the SUV in an area with EMTs, dragging Madera-Duran out of the vehicle, and then driving away. The stolen Dodge Durango was later found burned, thanks to an air tag tracking device placed in the SUV by investigators.

The Philadelphia police are offering a reward of $148,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the suspects involved in this tragic incident. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging the public to come forward with any relevant information that may aid in the identification and apprehension of the individuals responsible. The loss of Officer Richard Mendez has once again highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers every day and has left the Philadelphia community mourning the loss of a dedicated public servant.