Driver charged with murder for deliberately mowing mother and her children



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A man was charged with murder after planting his car twice on a family of eight – the murder of his mother – in front of a 7-Eleven in Rockland County because the father had told him not to smoke in front of their house. six children, police said.

Jason Mendez, 35, enraged, jumped in his car around 13:50. Wednesday and hit the family – then reversed and hit a second time after hitting the building, police said.

"His cigarette smoke was close to the family and that seems to be the catalyst," police captain Martin Lund, Haverstraw police captain, told police on Thursday.

Mendez waved a knife and refused to obey the orders of police officers to drop the weapon before forcing him to submit to the threat of a weapon, the police said.

A 32-year-old woman died of injuries in a hospital, police said.

The police have not yet revealed his name, but a GoFundMe page created by a cousin has identified him as Melissa Castillo DeLoatch.

Her 35-year-old husband and a 2-year-old child were transported to Westchester Medical Center with serious injuries, according to WNBC.

The remaining children, ranging in age from a few months to 10 years, were treated at Montefiore Nyack Hospital in Rockland.

Mendez, of Washingtonville, NY, was charged with second degree murder and seven counts of attempted second degree murder. He pleaded not guilty to his indictment on Wednesday night.

He is being held at Rockland County Jail.

Witnesses Cindy Schnalzer told WNBC: "The baby was crying and an 11-year-old girl came out. She was with her father here and he was swinging to find out where the guy was. "

She added: "I heard the father, he told the cops," I told him not to blow smoke in front of my children. "

A 7-Eleven employee also told WABC that a man who smoked outside had trouble when the father asked him not to light around the children.

"The investigation is still ongoing and it is expected that several additional charges will be filed," police said in a message posted on Facebook. "The names of all involved parties are not disclosed at this time due to the ongoing investigation."

The damage to 7-Eleven was severe enough to cause the Haverstraw City Building Department to shut down its business and order the exit.

Mendez's lawyer said in court that his client had lost his mobile phone repair work a week ago, the media reported.

His vehicle, a white Infiniti, wore texan license plates, but the authorities claimed that he was from Rockland County.

Lund said Mendez had a criminal record in Texas.

In 2012, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a public officer. In 2014, he was charged with domestic violence, but this complaint was dropped when his wife refused to testify, according to the Rockland Times.

"Melissa did what any mother would have done and tried to protect her children. She was a real hero, "wrote her cousin Adrienne Rodriguez in her album GoFundMe, which raised almost $ 3,900 Thursday morning.

"I will give the funds to her mother (who currently cares for some of the children), her children and her husband for the burial and care of the children," she added.

"Melissa was full of love, smiles, life and so much more. We will all miss you, beyond the words, you can explain it.

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