BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas — Former Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office deputy Kevin Tippit was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated assault by a public servant in connection with the fatal shooting of 18-year-old college student John Mendoza Jr., according to county jail records.
A Brazoria County grand jury indicted Tippit Aug. 6, according to the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office. Texas Rangers arrested him Tuesday as part of an investigation into the June 1 shooting in Lake Jackson.
Tippit followed Mendoza to his home after an attempted traffic stop before the shooting. The sheriff’s office fired Tippit several days later, citing policy violations involving the handling and discharge of his firearm.
Mendoza’s family attorney, Charles Adams, has said Mendoza was unarmed and was not attempting to evade police when Tippit shot him.
The aggravated assault charge is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison, according to the district attorney’s office. Tippit’s bond was set at $250,000.
Adams said the charge allows prosecutors to pursue a case based on recklessness, a culpable mental state that Texas law does not allow prosecutors to use for a murder charge.
“This allows the DA’s office to push back on the argument that it was just an unfortunate accident,” Adams said.
The Texas Rangers investigated the shooting with the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office.
Adams said Tuesday that he believes the indictment was the appropriate action.
Tippit’s legal representation was not immediately clear.
Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman said the indictment carried “heavy emotion” and acknowledged the impact of Mendoza’s death on his family.
“John Jr. was a young man who was well-loved and had his whole life in front of him. He should still be here with his family,” Stallman said.
Stallman also described Tippit as a hard-working employee who had served the sheriff’s office and community.
“There is no doubt this incident had devastating consequences,” Stallman said.
