A 39-year-old Weslaco man shot and killed by law enforcement last Friday told a negotiator that he had a visual on officers and was going to kill them.
The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office filed a custodial death report Tuesday with the Texas Attorney General’s Office for the death of Rigo Mendez, which provides more information over the shooting that resulted in two deputies and two Texas Department of Public Safety troopers being placed on administrative leave, per the agencies’ protocol.
Deputies and troopers responded to Mendez’s home at 7112 Mile 3 1/2 Road at approximately 3:24 p.m. after a concerned citizen called dispatch to report that someone at the house was shooting while children were at the location, according to the custodial death report.
Following the shooting, Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra said on Twitter that neighbors had called authorities to report that they heard shots fired inside the home and were concerned for the children inside.
Upon arrival, the custodial death report said that a man — Mendez — was inside the home with a weapon.
“Deputies then heard gunshots coming from the inside (of the) house,” the report stated. “Deputies took cover and could see that shots were being fired towards their direction.”
DPS troopers then responded and a negotiator communicated with Mendez, “who stated that he had (a) visual of law enforcement officers and was going to kill them.”
The report said Mendez then left the house through the garage with a rifle.
“At that time gunfire was exchanged and the suspect fell to the ground,” the report stated.
That document said deputies provided immediate first aid and that Mendez was airlifted to an Edinburg hospital where he died.
The report lists his time of death at 5:17 p.m.
Had Mendez survived, he would have been charged with two counts of attempted capital murder, and the report said he also committed the offense of crimes against children.
The Texas Rangers and a sheriff’s office investigating team that probes law enforcement shootings continue to investigate.
