John's story: A life cut short, a family's fight for justice

John Gabriel Mendoza Jr.

To the world, he was an eighteen-year-old college freshman whose life ended far too soon.

To those who loved him, he was Baby John. JJ. Bubba. Big John.

He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a grandson, a lifelong friend, a teammate, and a young man whose future was just beginning. 

John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. was only eighteen years old when his life was taken. Eighteen years- that is where his story ended. But it is not where it began. 

John was born in Lake Jackson, named after his father, John Gabriel Mnedoza Sr., who lovingly raised him as a single father. Together, they built a relationship that was much more than that of a parent and child. They were best friends. They laughed together, traveled together, supported one another through every challenge, and treasured the time they spent together. 

John fiercely loved his dad, and his dad loved him just as deeply. 

As John grew older, life became busier with school, sports, work, and eventually college, but his father always made sure they found time for each other. Whether it was taking a short road trip or simply spending the day together, those moments became memories they both cherished. John never outgrew wanting to spend time with his dad.

John was known for having a quiet personality, but anyone who knew him well also knew his playful side. He could be incredibly goofy, loved making people laugh, and enjoyed simply being around the people he loved. He didn't need elaborate plans or expensive entertainment. Some of his happiest moments were spent playing basketball, dancing with friends, sharing meals, and making memories with people who had been part of his life since childhood. 

Many of John's closest friends weren't just friends- they were family. Most of them had met in kindergarten and had grown up side by side. Through elementary school, middle school, high school, and into adulthood, they remained inseparable. They celebrated milestones together, supported one another through difficult times, and created a friendship that lasted a lifetime.

Family meant everything to John. 

He was the baby brother and a proud uncle. The bond he shared with his siblings, niece, and cousins was one filled with love, laughter, and loyalty. He was someone they could count on, someone whose presence made family gatherings brighter simply because he was there.  

Growing up, John loved sports. He played football, baseball, and even golf. He enjoyed being active and loved spending time with teammates and friends. 

He was also a devoted Dallas Cowboy fan.

His father, despite being a Texan fan, happily took John to a Dallas Cowboy game because seeing his son's excitement meant more than any football rivalry ever could. That was the kind of father he was, and that was the kind of relationship they shared. 

John also loved food.

Although John was helping in the kitchen before this, in middle school, John took home economics, where he discovered that he genuinely enjoyed cooking. It wasn't unusual for him to walk into the kitchen while dinner was being prepared and add his own special touch to whatever was cooking- sometimes being the one to cook the entire meal. He loved trying new things and sharing meals with the people around him. 

And if someone was picking up food, everyone already knew the rule- you always brought something back for John, even if he had just eaten. He simply loved good food, and it became one of the many little things that made him who he was.

More importantly, John had a generous heart. 

He noticed when others were struggling. When a fellow student needed a new pair of shoes, John looked down at his own nearly new shoes and asked his dad if he could give them away. Without hesitation, he chose someone else's needs over his own.

These moments weren't extraordinary to John. They were simply who he was. Kindness wasn't something he did for recognition- it was part of his character. 

John worked hard in school and consistently earned good grades. He was respectful, well-liked by his peers, and carried himself with quiet confidence. Teachers, classmates, coaches, friends, and family all saw the same thing: a young man with a bright future.

There was one family joke that never seemed to get old.

As John got older, he continued getting taller. 

His dad would stand beside him and jokingly insist they were still the same height. Then, smiling, he'd move his hand higher and higher to match John's height. It was a simple tradition that perfectly captured their relationship- a father proud of the young man standing beside him and a son who never stopped smiling at his dad's jokes.

In the fall of 2025, John began one of the biggest chapters of his life when he left home to attend Texas State University.

Like many young adults leaving home for the first time, he was beginning to discover who he wanted to become. 

During his freshman year, his dad watched him mature in remarkable ways. He learned to manage his money more responsibly, began understanding the difference between wants and needs, and embraced the independence that comes with adulthood.

Yet no matter how independent he became, he never drifted far from home. 

He still called.

He still checked on his dad.

He still made sure the man who had raised him knew he was loved.

John was excited about his future. 

Like many young people, he had explored different career dreams while growing up. But eventually, he knew exactly where he wanted to be.

He wanted to graduate from college and come home to work for the Dow Chemical Company alongside his father.

Having watched his Dad work tirelessly throughout his life, John admired his work ethic and wanted to follow in his footsteps. He spoke to others about wanting to come back and work with his dad so he could "give him a break."

That wasn't just a career goal. It was an expression of the love and gratitude he carried for the man who had sacrificed so much to raise him. 

John had dreams.

He had plans.

He had a future.

He should have had decades ahead of him to build the life he envisioned. 

Instead, only two weeks after returning home from completing his freshman year of college, everything changed. 

For John's father and family, the nightmare did not end when the shot was fired.

It was only the beginning.

According to John's father, about eight to ten minutes passed before additional first responders arrived at his home, and even more for paramedics. Once they finally loaded John into the back of the ambulance, John Sr. left for the hospital. John Sr. and his sister and brother-in-law, all beat the ambulance to the hospital and actually had to wait for their arrival. The timeline has remained difficult for the family to understand, especially considering they live within minutes, under normal driving conditions, of the police station, EMT station, and hospital. 

At least two neighbors reported seeing the ambulance remain outside the residence for a period of time before leaving. According to those witnesses, the ambulance departed without its emergency lights activated and traveled at what appeared to be a slow speed. 

The family continues to seek answers regarding those events and the timeline of John's medical transport. 

John's father and aunt waited hours, hoping for good news that would never come. Two to three hours passed when hospital personnel informed John Sr. that John had not survived. Every parent's worst nightmare had become reality.

When John's father returned home, investigators from the sheriff's office, the Texas Rangers, and local law enforcement agencies were still processing the scene.

Eventually, the family was allowed to return to inside the home. 

What they walked back into would leave another painful memory they will carry forever. 

An overturned garbage can remained in the driveway. 

The garage- the place where John had taken some of his final breaths- had not been cleaned. No warning to the family. No cleanup services were provided. No assistance was offered.

Still consumed by shock and overwhelming grief, John's family was left to clean the scene themselves.

In the days that followed, they searched for not only answers, but for compassion. There was no condolences from the Sheriff, County, or City leaders. No one reached out to explain what happened. 

No one checked on the father who had lost his only son.

For several days, the deputy involved in the shooting was not publicly identified. The family learned his identity through other sources before officials officially released his name. 

Nearly two weeks later, on June 9, 2026, the Sheriff announced that the deputy had been terminated for violating department policy and for the first time, the deputy was publicly and officially identified. 

On June 19, 2026, John's father and his attorney met with the Texas Rangers for the first official update regarding the case. The Rangers informed John Sr. and his attorney what appeared in the body cam and dash cam footage, but did not allow them to view the video themselves at this time.

On June 30th, 30 days after his son's death, John Sr. was finally able to view the video recordings. He states the recordings show just how bad this really is, referring to his son's death. He confirmed that the video shows that Kevin Tippett approached his son's vehicle in their family garage, no commands given, and fired the shot that killed his son. He also states that the video shows the officer driving "recklessly" as he drove at high speeds to catch up to his son's vehicle after his son turned onto FM 2004, driving what appeared to be a normal speed. John Sr. also stated that the garage door was still opening to his home when the officer entered the family garage and fired his weapon. 

John Sr. and his attorney state the John did not have a weapon on him, nor did he attempt to barricade himself after stopping.

At the time of this writing, the former deputy has not been indicted or arrested in connection with John's death.

For John's family, each passing day without an indictment has been another day of grief, uncertainty, and unanswered questions. 

On Saturday, June 13, 2026, hundred of family members, friends, classmates, teammates, coworkers, neighbors, and community members gathered to celebrate John's life and lay him to rest.

To some, he was known as Baby John. To others, he was JJ. Some called him Bubba. Others knew him as Big John. 

But to everyone who loved him, he was unforgettable. 

He was the quiet young man, with a generous heart, a college freshman on the brink of life, a Dallas Cowboy fan who convinced is Texan-loving Dad to take him to a game, a kid who loved to cook, play basketball, dance with his friends, and bringing laughter wherever he went. He was the son who never stopped checking on his father. 

He was his father's greatest joy. 

John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. was only eighteen years old. His life mattered. His dreams mattered. His future mattered. 

This website was created so that John will never be remembered only for the way his life ended. He will be remembered for the way he lived life.

John is more than a case number. More than a news story. He is a son. He is loved. 

He will never be forgotten.