Authorities Friday released video footage of a law enforcement shooting that killed a 33-year-old man who allegedly fired a pistol toward a phalanx of lawmen during a traffic stop in San Marcos.
Five members of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and a Palomar College Police Officer opened fire on Andre Raphael Mendez of Oceanside at about 9 p.m. on Feb. 18. Several of their uniform-worn cameras and a witness’s cellphone captured images of the deadly barrage of gunfire.
The events that led to the shooting began a short time earlier, when San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sean Dwyer pulled over the driver of a red Hyundai Sonata for an inoperative taillight in the 600 block of North Twin Oaks Valley Road. Mendez was riding in the car, which was being driven by a 21- year-old woman.
During the traffic stop, the deputy conducted a record check of the car’s license plate and vehicle identification number, which appeared inconsistent with Department of Motor Vehicles registration records.
After noticing damage to the steering column, suggesting that the vehicle might be stolen, the deputy requested backup.
After more sheriff’s personnel arrived, Mendez — who had given Dwyer a false name — allegedly rolled up the window next to him and ignored repeated commands to lower it. He then allegedly reached down and picked up a handgun from the floor of the car.
The video footage shows the lawmen shouting at Mendez over and over to drop the pistol as deputies remove the woman from the vehicle and escort her to safety. The frantic impasse continued for about 90 seconds before one of the deputies began using a baton to break the window next to Mendez.
Moments later, after the glass shattered and fell away, Mendez allegedly lifted his handgun and fired a round, prompting Dwyer to open fire on him along with Deputies Jake Brown, Chalit Caranto, Thomas Cook and Justin Tesar, and Palomar College reserve police Officer Kyle Hodges.
Following the fusillade of gunshots, sheriff’s personnel performed lifesaving measures on Mendez, to no avail.
No other injuries were reported.
–City News Service
