A sheriff’s deputy has been fired following the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old college student outside his family home.
John Gabriel Mendoza Jr, a freshman at Texas State University, died after being shot during a confrontation with Brazoria County Deputy Kevin Tippit in Lake Jackson, Texas, on 1 June.
In a video statement released on Tuesday, Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman announced Tippit had been dismissed following an internal investigation.
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“The authority that is entrusted to law enforcement officers is extraordinary, and with that authority comes a responsibility to exercise sound judgment, follow policy and uphold the standards that are expected by this profession,” Stallman said.
“Based on the ongoing investigations and the information available to me at this time, I have determined that due to the policy violations, related to the handling and discharging of his firearm, the employment of the deputy involved in the shooting on June 1, Kevin Tippit, has been terminated effective today.”
The sheriff stressed that the decision was separate from an ongoing criminal investigation into the shooting, as reported by Need To Know.
According to authorities, Tippit attempted to stop Mendoza shortly after midnight on the outskirts of Lake Jackson.
The sheriff’s office said the teenager then drove approximately 1.3 miles to his nearby home.
Officials said Mendoza parked in an attached garage and got out of his vehicle before Tippit approached him and discharged his firearm.
The 18-year-old was rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries.
In his statement, Sheriff Stallman also addressed Mendoza’s family directly.
“John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. lost his life, your family lost a son, friends lost someone they loved,” he said.
“Regardless of any outcome of any investigation, your family’s loss is permanent and your grief is real.
“I can not begin to understand the pain that your family is experiencing, but I wanted you to know that your loss is seen and that John Mendoza Jr. will not be forgotten.”
As investigations continue, family members and friends have been paying tribute to the teenager, describing him as a bright student with a promising future.
Mendoza had just completed his freshman year at Texas State University, where he was studying management.
According to his obituary, he was an excellent student who made the Dean’s List during his first year of college and was excited about the future.
He had hoped to graduate and eventually work alongside his father at Dow Chemical.
Before university, Mendoza graduated from Brazoswood High School in 2025.
Friends and family said he was passionate about sports and spent much of his childhood on the field.
He played football from the age of five until graduation and also participated in powerlifting, basketball and baseball.
Away from sport, he enjoyed golf, fishing, sports cars and spending time in nature.
His obituary described him as someone whose generosity extended beyond words and who always had time to encourage and listen to others.
It added: “John filled our lives with energy, curiosity, and love.”
The teenager had also embraced university life, building a close network of friends and taking part in volunteer work that he often spoke about with pride.
His family said he was devoted to those around him and remained especially close to friends he had known since kindergarten.
A family friend, Tracy Nicole, shared an emotional tribute following his death.
“You were pure joy for all of us,” she wrote.
“You were a good kid that grew into a good man and were continuing to grow.”
Recalling his return home after his first semester at university, she said Mendoza had been excited about college life and the future ahead of him.
“He had the biggest smile and gave me the biggest hug,” she wrote.
“You wanted to graduate and told me you wanted to go work with your dad. He was so proud of you.”
Nicole added: “Your dad was your biggest fan and number 1 supporter.
“This world is a little darker without you here.”
Mendoza is survived by his parents, John Gabriel Mendoza Sr. and Tabitha Rivera, his siblings, grandparents, extended family and numerous friends.
A celebration of his life is scheduled to take place at Restwood Funeral Home in Clute, Texas, on 13 June, followed by a gathering at Lake Jackson Civic Center.
Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers are leading the criminal investigation into the shooting alongside the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Tom Selleck previously said the case will be presented to a grand jury once investigators have completed their work.
Officials have indicated the investigation could take several months.
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