Family of 12-year-old boy fatally shot by Philly police officer reaches 3 million settlement with city

Philadelphia has reached a $3 million settlement with the family of T. J. Siderio, a 12-year-old boy fatally shot by police in March 2022. The incident occurred during an undercover investigation into reports of an armed teenager in South Philadelphia. Siderio, a seventh grader, was shot by former police officer Edsaul Mendoza after initially brandishing a gun and later surrendering.

Mendoza was fired for failure to follow deadly force protocols and has been sentenced to 8 to 20 years in prison for murder. The family's lawsuit claimed emotional and economic damages, and the settlement clears both the city and Mendoza of further liability. The Center City law firm Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky represented the Siderio family, describing the case as tragic. This settlement highlights ongoing concerns regarding police use of force, especially involving minors. The outcome aims to provide some justice to the family after their devastating loss.