Two more New Jersey men have been arrested days after a Philadelphia police officer was killed and another officer was injured in a shooting while they confronting men breaking into a vehicle in an airport parking garage.
Alexander Batista-Polanco, 21, of Camden, and Hendrick Pena-Fernandez, 21, of Pennsauken are in custody and facing charges of murder and attempted murder, authorities announced at a press conference at Philadelphia City Hall on Wednesday. The gun used in the shooting has not been recovered, police said.
On Monday, Yobranny Martinez Fernandez, 18, of Camden, was arrested at a motel in Cherry Hill. He was extradited Wednesday to Philadelphia, authorities said.
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Batista-Polanco had warrants for his arrest in New Jersey and was also sought in burglary charges in Scranton, Pennsylvania, police officials said. He was charged overnight in Scranton and will be brought to Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon.
Pena-Fernandez was arrested in Bellmawr, authorities said. Investigators showed up at a residence in Pennsauken but Pena Fernandez wasn’t there. He was located a short time later.
Officer Richard Mendez, 50, was shot four times in a parking garage at Philadelphia International Airport and died of his injuries at an area hospital. Another officer, Raul Ortiz, a 20-year veteran of the force, was shot once in his arm and released from the hospital two days later.
Police said Wednesday the shots “came from behind Mendez.”
Authorities said the suspects fled the garage in an SUV reported stolen a week ago that was later seen at a hospital dropping off 18-year-old Jesus Herman Madera Duran, who authorities said was believed to be involved in the confrontation with the officers.
Duran had been shot in the chest, abdomen and left arm and was pronounced dead around 11:30 p.m. Thursday.
Authorities now believe everyone in the SUV has been apprehended, though additional people are expected to be charged with hindering the investigation as police looked for the suspects.
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