Fired Philadelphia police officer charged with murder in 12-year-old's death

A former Philadelphia police officer was charged with murder on Monday in the death a 12-year-old boy.

A former Philadelphia police officer was charged with murder Monday in the death of a 12-year-old boy who a prosecutor alleged was shot in the back after apparently complying with orders to toss down a gun and get on the ground.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said during a news conference that former undercover cop Edsaul Mendoza was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree murder, third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and possession of an instrument of a crime.

The charges stem from the fatal shooting of Thomas "T.J." Siderio Jr. in South Philadelphia on March 1.

Siderio was shot after Mendoza and three other undercover officers in an unmarked car attempted to stop him and a 17-year-old boy who were riding their bicycles in the wrong direction on a street, authorities said. Krasner said Siderio was initially armed with a handgun and fired a shot through a rear window of the unmarked police car, setting off the fatal foot chase.