Former Philly cop sentenced to 8-20 years for 2022 shooting death of 12-year-old Thomas Siderio

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The former police officer who pleaded guilty to the killing of a 12-year-old in South Philadelphia nearly two years ago was sentenced Monday.

Edsaul Mendoza, 28 , wiped away tears as his mother spoke of their American dream turning into a nightmare — how they struggled to make it to the U.S., how her son graduated from a top criminal justice school and wanted to make the world a better place — she begged the court for mercy.

In April, Mendoza pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and a weapons charge for the shooting death of Thomas Siderio, known as T.J. Authorities say the 12-year-old shot into an unmarked police car with officers inside, and that’s when Mendoza chased and fatally shot the pre-teen as he was on the ground.

“[When Mendoza] put a hole in TJ’s heart, he also put a hole in mine,” Siderio’s 10-year-old cousin tearfully told the judge.

Prosecutor Clarke Beljean says after the shooting, Mendoza searched for how to skip town.

“Mr. Mendoza searched online for plane tickets from New York to the Dominican Republic, which is where he is from. About 10 days later, he performed another search for top 5 countries with no extradition treaty within the United States. At the top of the list was Cuba,” Beljean said.

Mendoza’s Defense Attorney Charles Gibbs said his client was scared, thought his partner was shot dead, and made a terrible mistake. Mendoza apologized to the court and said he’s already serving a life sentence .

Judge Diana Anhalt called this case “tragic all the way around,” adding that even if his partner died, he didn’t have the right to go shoot Siderio. She sentenced him to 8 to 20 years behind bars.

Outside the court, the Siderio’s family was upset at what they say was a light sentence.

“This is a tragedy, this never should have happened at all,” said Siderio’s uncle Shawn Lawler.