6th Tacoma Homicide of 2022: Philip Mercado Mendoza
February 5, 2022 was a busy Saturday night at the El Perla del Mar Restaurant on South 38th and Pacific Avenue. Thirty-seven year old Philip Mercado Mendoza was sitting at a table near one of the windows. Customers were enjoying their meals. There was a band playing at different tables. At around 9:30pm someone outside the restaurant dressed in a hooded sweatshirt approached the window, pulled out a gun, and opened fire. The hooded individual then left the scene. Philip Mendoza was the only casualty becoming the sixth Tacoma homicide of 2022.
Investigators say this was an isolated incident and that Philip was targeted, but as far as I can tell there hasn’t been much progress on the case. (If I’m wrong about that, please feel free to correct me.)
Philip’s nickname was ‘Big Phil’. He was the father of six children. I was unable to learn much more about Philip, but this is where I rely on friends and family of the victim who want to share thoughts, stories, or photos. If you’d like to post remembrances of Philip, you can post in the comments or if you prefer, email me at jackcameronis@gmail.com.
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