Police: Skateboard, Baseball Bat And Knife Used In Tulsa Man's Death

The Tulsa Police Department said a fight led to a man's death in the 4600 block of South 72nd East Place at about 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Wednesday, February 12th 2014, 7:38 am



A Tulsa woman's husband was killed Tuesday night, and now her brother is behind bars for the crime. She said it all started because she was trying to stop her brother from driving drunk.

The Tulsa Police Department responded to a fight leading to the man's death in the 4600 block of South 72nd East Place at about 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Officers found Juan Mendoza, 34, lying in a driveway.

"I mean, it just can't be, that he is gone," said Juan Mendoza's wife Indira.

Police said the incident began with a fight between Indira, and her brother, Pedro Castro, 28. Officers said Mendoza stopped the fight.

Indira said it started when Castro was drunk, and she tried to take his car keys. She said that made him angry, and he attacked her several times.

She said he cut her hand and stomach, and slammed her head against a garage door and onto the pavement. She even used a stun-gun on him; she said that didn't stop him.

"Not only was he drinking, but I honestly think he had done harder stuff, because how can he kill another human being. And how can he take that away from his nieces and sister," Indira Mendoza asked.

After she was taken to the hospital, Juan Mendoza got into a fight with Castro, according to police.

Police said Castro used a skateboard as a weapon. They say Mendoza used a baseball bat to defend himself, but police said his brother-in-law grabbed the bat and began using against Mendoza. Police said Castro also stabbed Mendoza with a knife.

Mendoza was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Lots of broken windows, broken glass, lots of blood everywhere. So we're just still trying to piece it together right now," said Tulsa Police Captain Wendell Franklin.

Franklin said Castro left, but police located him at 46th and Memorial riding the skateboard.

They booked Castro into the Tulsa County jail on a first-degree murder complaint.

Police said Indira Mendoza's injuries were not life-threatening.

Police said Mendoza's death is Tulsa's fifth homicide of 2014.

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