John Gabriel Mendoza Jr., 18, died after a pursuit ended at his family’s Lake Jackson home.
LAKE JACKSON, Texas — The family of John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. is pressing for answers after the 18-year-old college student was fatally shot by a Brazoria County sheriff’s deputy early Monday inside a garage, following a short chase in Lake Jackson.
The shooting has placed new attention on a case that began as an attempted traffic stop near FM 2004 and This Way Street. The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy tried to stop Mendoza’s vehicle about 12:09 a.m. Monday, but the vehicle continued until it reached a home in the 100 block of Indian Warrior Trail.
Authorities said the pursuit ended when the vehicle entered an attached garage. The sheriff’s office said the deputy encountered the driver and fired, hitting Mendoza. Mendoza was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. Officials have not said what violation led to the attempted stop or what happened in the moments before the shot was fired.
Mendoza’s family said he had recently returned home after finishing his freshman year at Texas State University. Family attorney Charles Adams said Mendoza had been with friends earlier that night and was trying to get home. Adams said the young men in the vehicle were not armed and did not have anything illegal with them.
Family members said Mendoza was known in the Lake Jackson area as a former high school football player and a student with plans to return to college. “He was my heart,” Mendoza’s father told KPRC. Other relatives said they were shaken by the way a traffic stop ended and called for a full explanation from investigators.
The deputy involved has been placed on administrative leave, which the sheriff’s office described as standard policy. The deputy’s identity has not been released. The sheriff’s office also has not publicly released video, radio traffic, reports or a detailed timeline beyond the location of the attempted stop and the location where the chase ended.
The Texas Rangers and the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office are reviewing the shooting. Their findings could determine whether the shooting is presented to prosecutors or a grand jury. As of Tuesday, no charging decision had been announced, and officials said the case remained active.
The investigation now centers on the unanswered questions between the first attempted stop and the fatal shot inside the garage. Mendoza’s family says it will keep seeking records and a fuller account of the deputy’s actions.
Author note: Last updated June 2, 2026.