2 Philadelphia police officers shot, 1 fatally at airport garage

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Two Philadelphia police officers were shot late Thursday night at a Philadelphia International Airport parking garage, police said.

One of the officers did not survive. His body was escorted by police motorcycles to the city Medical Examiner’s Office early Friday morning. A procession up I-95 North brought the officer’s body to the Givnish Funeral Home on Academy Road in Northeast Philadelphia.

Who are the officers who were shot?

The officers’ identities were released Friday evening. Officer Richard Mendez and Officer Raul Ortiz.

Police Commissioner John Stanford identified the fallen officer as 50-year-old Richard Mendez. He is a 22-year veteran who leaves behind a wife and daughter.

Mendez served in the Philadelphia Police Department for 22 years, Stanford said. He worked with the 25th Police District before getting assigned to the airport.

McNesby said the officer “was a great guy, a great cop, really well respected.”

“He was a standout officer,” McNesby added. “You saw more tears in that emergency room than I’ve ever since in the years that I’ve been here.”

The 25th District in North Philadelphia is more active while the airport is often an assignment officers take later on in their career, McNesby said.

“It’s a place where you’re supposed to be winding down your career, and here they’re shot coming to work,” McNesby added.

Officer Ortiz is 60 years old and has 20 years of experience with the department.

“Anger, devastation and heartbreak are the emotions. One officer gave his life tonight and one is recovering. Please wrap your arms and prayers around their families and our department. We will continue our search for those responsible and won’t stop until all are in custody,” Commissioner Stanford said on Twitter.

Final arrangements for Officer Mendez have not been made public.   

$180K reward available for information that will lead to an arrest

The reward for information leading to an arrest continues to grow. Sources confirmed with CBS News Philadelphia’s Joe Holden that the reward is now at $180,000.

Earlier Friday the Philadelphia FOP Lodge 5 and Delaware County FOP Lodge 27 offered $30,000 for information leading to an arrest. The Temple University Police Association added an additional $5,000, and over 20 organizations also gave donations.

“If you bring them in today, they’re paid today,” Lodge 5 President John McNesby said. 

The shooting comes one week after three police officers were shot in Northeast Philadelphia after a domestic incident. All three of those officers have since been released from the hospital.   

Watch the full conference with Mayor Kenney and Philadelphia Police below.

Shooting at Philadelphia International Airport garage

Thursday night, the two partner officers were starting their shift at the airport when they heard glass shattering in the parking garage. Both officers went to investigate and found three to four people breaking into a vehicle, Interim Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Stanford said.

Standford continues to say there was a struggle between the officers and the group which leads to Mendez being shot multiple times. Ortiz was shot in the arm.

During the struggle, one suspect was shot and they fled the scene. It’s unclear if either of the officers fired their weapons in the incident.

Sources Mendez’s gun is missing.

Police sources close to the investigation told CBS News Philadelphia’s Joe Holden there has been a rash of car break-ins and thefts from airport parking garages in recent weeks.

Figures from the department show 100 cars have been stolen from there since the beginning of the year.

Was anyone arrested? Where are the suspects?

Philadelphia Police late Friday say they’re on the trail of at least three people who took off from the city of Philadelphia heading north into Central Jersey.

We learned at a late afternoon press conference they were driving in a Dodge Durango stolen out of South Philadelphia a week ago

Friday morning, a Dodge Durango arrived at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and dropped off an 18-year-old who had been shot, Stanford said. Police said the 18-year-old was believed to be involved in the fatal police shooting and died at the hospital.

That same SUV was seen on surveillance video where Mendez and Ortiz were shot while arriving for work in an airport parking garage.

The Durango SUV was later found torched in South Brunswick after police say they helped use an AirTag that had been in the SUV that showed it had been driven north on 95. Police recovered the tracker near 95 at Academy.

Officials said the vehicle will be retrieved and processed and there could be up to three additional people in the Durango SUV.

Procession brings officer’s body to funeral home

A police escort brought the fallen officer from the medical examiner’s office to the John F. Givnish Funeral Home on Academy Road in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday morning.

Officers went up I-95 North before arriving at the funeral home.

State Fraternal Order of Police releases statement on death of officer

Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge President Joseph Regan sent a statement on the shooting.

“We lost a hero today. Our deepest condolences go out to the officer’s loved ones during this difficult time,” Regan said. “We stand together with the Philadelphia Police Department and FOP Lodge 5 in honoring this hero’s sacrifice and praying for the full recovery of the injured officer.”

Philadelphia leaders, Gov. Shapiro share statements on shooting

“Heartbroken by the tragic loss of a @PhillyPolice officer,” Mayor Jim Kenney wrote on X on Friday. “My thoughts are with their family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time, and I pray for the second officer’s swift recovery.”

District Attorney Larry Krasner sent a statement mentioning the high number of guns in the U.S.

“Law enforcement across multiple agencies are working continuously to identify those responsible — without the ability to quickly match ballistics on scene to a firearm that can be traced via database to point of regulated sale and owner, all because gun-crazy politicians serve the NRA’s bloody agenda instead of serving and protecting the public,” Krasner’s statement said. “America has more guns than people, thanks to the same gun-crazy politicians who oppose commonsense gun regulations.”

Outside Lodge 5 of the Fraternal Order of Police, a flag is at half-staff for an officer who made a sacrifice.

“We’re here again today, unfortunately, we’re mourning an officer who we lost,” John McNesby, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said.

Mourning McNesby and the Fraternal Order have experienced one too many times.

“Listen we stand here all the time and say the same thing, but this guy, he was a stand out officer, very well respected and very well thought of and you saw more tears in that emergency room last night than I’ve ever seen in the years that I’ve been here,” he said.

Krasner added, “Police go to work every day knowing they could at any moment encounter someone who has no business holding a gun, has a gun anyway, and is willing to fire upon others for no reason at all.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he and First Lady Lori Shapiro are praying for the officer’s family and the department.

Heartbroken and angry as Philadelphia wakes up to news of a @PhillyPolice officer killed in the line of duty last night and another officer shot.

Lori and I are praying for their loved ones and the entire Philadelphia Police Department.

May the officer’s memory be a blessing.

— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) October 13, 2023

Airport releases statement after shooting in Terminal D/E garage

The shooting temporarily closed Terminal D but it has since reopened.

Some SEPTA bus routes were bypassing the airport after the shooting. SEPTA routes are now back on schedule. 

A spokesperson for the airport released a statement Friday mourning the officers and asking for anyone with information to call the police tipline.

“Philadelphia International Airport is safe and open for passengers and staff this morning.  We join the City of Philadelphia and our region in mourning the loss of one Philadelphia Police Airport Division officer and keep his loved ones and colleagues in our prayers. Our thoughts are also with the injured officer.  This is an ongoing police investigation and we encourage anyone with information to please call or text  215-686-TIPS(8477). You can remain anonymous.”