Teen driver charged with attempted murder after ramming stolen car into officers in Fordham
Jayden Mendoza, 18, of Castle Hill, was taken into custody after he was shot in the arm by an officer during the chaos. Police say he was officially charged on Tuesday evening.
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The driver of the stolen car that rammed multiple police officers and a sergeant in Fordham is now facing an attempted murder charge, according to the NYPD.
Jayden Mendoza, 18, of Castle Hill, was taken into custody after he was shot in the arm by an officer during the chaos. Police say he was officially charged on Tuesday evening.
The passenger, 20-year-old Angel Robles, of Highbridge, was arrested Monday evening and charged with criminal possession of a loaded firearm.
A Glock .22 with an extended magazine was later recovered inside the vehicle, the NYPD says. It was not immediately known who the firearm belonged to or if it is related to Robles' charge.
The incident unfolded Sunday evening when officers were alerted about a stolen silver Kia Sportage with New Jersey plates traveling through Washington Heights around 5:25 p.m.
The car was reported stolen in the Bronx one day before, according to the NYPD.
A short time later, a license plate reader captured the Kia traveling across the University Heights Bridge into the Bronx. Police say they followed the car via aviation as it moved through the borough.
Members of the NYPD's Community Response Team spotted the Kia driving eastbound on East Fordham Road approaching Cedar Avenue. Police say six unmarked NYPD vehicles surrounded the stolen car in an attempt to stop the driver from taking off.
Mendoza did not follow officers' demands to exit the vehicle and instead attempted to drive away, ramming into multiple officers and a sergeant, according to police.
One officer then jumped onto the vehicle and fired at the driver, striking him in the arm.
The sergeant, multiple officers and the 18-year-old driver were taken to nearby hospitals. Police say they are all expected to recover.
According to the NYPD, Mendoza was arrested in February in connection with a separate incident. He was accused of shooting another man and charged with attempted felony assault, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a firearm.
The investigation into Sunday's incident is ongoing by the NYPD's Force Investigation Division.
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