Former Brazoria Co. deputy charged with aggravated assault in teen's shooting death: Docs

BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A former Brazoria County deputy at the center of an investigation into the accidental shooting death of a teen has been charged with aggravated assault by a public servant, records show.

The video above is from a previous report.

Records show Kevin Tippit was booked into Brazoria County Jail on Tuesday for an incident on June 1, 2026.

Tippit has been at the center of an investigation after 18-year-old John Mendoza Jr. was shot and killed at his Lake Jackson home following a police chase.

Before the shooting, Mendoza's car was seen fishtailing on Tippit's dash camera, according to records.

When Tippit began following Mendoza, documents state he responded by accelerating, at one point reaching 120 miles per hour, and running six red lights.

The warrant states that Mendoza then pulled into his garage, and as the garage door began to close, Tippit followed him on foot.

According to the warrant, Tippit's body camera shows him approaching the front driver's seat, pulling his weapon, then firing the fatal shot.

Court documents state that Tippit "did then and there recklessly cause seriously bodily injury to John Mendoza Jr. by shooting."

An investigation continues into the case, but Tippit was fired on June 9 for what the sheriff described as policy violations about the handling and discharge of his gun.