A former Philadelphia police officer, Edsaul Mendoza, was sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison for the third-degree murder of 12-year-old Thomas “TJ” Siderio, whom he shot in the back two years ago. Prosecutors initially sought a longer sentence, citing Mendoza’s attempts to flee the country following the shooting.
Mendoza searched for plane tickets to the Dominican Republic and later to Cuba, a country without an extradition treaty with the United States. Despite pleading guilty to murder, the sentencing was based on guidelines for third-degree murder, reflecting a minimum of seven-and-a-half years.
The incident involved Mendoza firing multiple shots at TJ, including after the boy had discarded a gun and was on his hands and knees. Mendoza was subsequently terminated from the police force for violating use of force directives.
The case has been deemed a “shocking crime,” highlighting the tragic consequences of excessive force. While Mendoza received his day in court, TJ Siderio was denied justice for the fatal shooting.