Man said ‘just because’ before fatally shooting stranger in Fort Worth, warrant says
A gunman pulled up next to a couple walking in Fort Worth and said, “just because” before fatally shooting the man in the face on Feb. 3, the victim’s girlfriend told police.
Fernando Mendoza, 34, was walking in the 2400 block of Roosevelt Avenue with his girlfriend at about 9:30 p.m. when a man drove by in a dark-colored SUV.
“What’s up, (expletives),” the man yelled from the car, and he stopped next to the couple, according to an arrest warrant affidavit from Fort Worth police. Mendoza’s girlfriend said neither of them knew the man in the car.
The greeting started an argument between Mendoza and the driver, who pulled into a nearby parking lot and got out of the SUV with a gun, Mendoza’s girlfriend later told Fort Worth police, according to the warrant.
The man pointed the gun at Mendoza’s face, said “just because,” and pulled the trigger, Mendoza’s girlfriend said, according to the arrest warrant.
The man got back into the SUV, where a woman was in the passenger seat, and drove away.
Mendoza was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died four days later.
On Feb. 4, Odessa police called Fort Worth with possible information about the shooting. Jesus Rios, 43, and a woman were involved in an accident in Odessa, and Rios was charged with drunk driving, according to the warrant.
The woman, who said she was dating Rios, told Odessa officers that Rios shot a man in Fort Worth and they were on their way to Mexico. She said she and Rios were driving home from dinner that night and Rios seemed to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol, the arrest warrant said.
Rios was shooting his handgun in the air while driving before pulling up next to Mendoza and his girlfriend and shooting him, Rios’ girlfriend said, according to the warrant.
Rios, who lives in Fort Worth, and his girlfriend went to her roommate’s house. Rios hid the gun in a bucket of water, she said. The couple borrowed her roommate’s Chevy truck and started to drive to Mexico, according to the arrest warrant.
Police found the SUV, a .45-caliber handgun and several shell casings and bullets at Rios’ girlfriend’s house, Fort Worth police said. Police also reviewed surveillance cameras from the shooting scene and identified Rios’ SUV.
Rios was listed as not in custody in Tarrant County as of Monday evening, according to court records.
This story was originally published February 10, 2020 at 5:03 PM.
