LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS - The Texas Rangers met with the family attorney and father of John Mendoza Jr. Friday, according to family attorney Charles Adams, to provide an update on the ongoing investigation into the young man's death at the hands of a former Brazoria County Sheriff's Office deputy.

Adams said in a statement posted on Facebook the meeting with the Rangers was cordial but left him deeply concerned about the direction of the investigation.


 The law enforcement focus is squarely on building a manslaughter/accidental discharge case against Deputy Tippit, and I continue to strongly disagree with that conclusion,  Adams said.

Rangers confirm video evidence exists

During the meeting, Adams said the Rangers confirmed the existence of both dash camera footage and body-worn camera footage capturing the encounter. While the Rangers did not share any video with John Mendoza Sr. during the meeting, they indicated that Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck intends to make the video evidence available to the family next week.

KPRC 2 News has reached out to DA Selleck to confirm any plans to share the video.

Adams welcomed the development.

 I applaud this decision and I am thankful DA Selleck has decided to be transparent with the family,  Adams said.  I am hopeful that full transparency with the community will follow. 

What investigators say happened

According to Adams, two officers from the Richwood Police Department - not Deputy Tippit - were the ones at the park where Mendoza Jr. and other young men had been hanging out that evening.

Video and officer accounts from the park confirmed the young men were not engaged in any illegal activity and were not approached by law enforcement, Adams said, but chose to leave shortly after the officers arrived.

Deputy Tippit engaged the vehicle after the group had left the park. Adams said it appears the young men mistook Tippit for one of the Richwood officers they had seen at the park.

Adams said the Rangers told him that Tippit initially caught up with the vehicle before Mendoza Jr. allegedly sped off at speeds 

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