Grand Jury Indicts Driver Accused Of Crushing Family, Killing Mom

NEW CITY, NY — Rockland County Acting District Attorney Kevin Gilleece today announced the indictment of Jason Mendez, an Orange County resident accused in the fatal 7-Eleven assault in Garnerville Feb. 20. Prosecutors say he drove his car deliberately into a family of eight, killing the mother.

The 35-year-old was arraigned on an indictment charging him with:

• One count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class "A" Felony
• Seven counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class “B” Violent Felony

“This is a horrifying case of a total stranger running down a defenseless family, leaving the mother dead," Gilleece said. "His actions should result in him spending the rest of his life in prison.”

Prosecutors allege that at 1:50 p.m. Feb. 20, Mendez intentionally drove his car across the parking lot of a 7-11 convenience store on Central Highway in Garnerville, plowing into a family of eight people who had been standing on the sidewalk in front of the store.

The family included children ranging in age from 11 months to 10 years. The mother, Melissa Castillo, died as a result of the injuries she sustained when hit by Mendez's car, a 2013 Infiniti with Texas license plates.

The father and six children were treated for injuries and have since recovered.

Mendez was still in the parking lot when officers from the Haverstraw Police Department arrived. When he got out of his car, he pointed a box cutter at the officer and refused to drop the weapon, prosecutors alleged. Mendez was tasered and placed under arrest.

The Washingtonville resident was charged and arraigned before the Honorable John Grant of the Town of Haverstraw Justice Court and remanded pending future court appearances.

Mendez faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.

Executive Assistant District Attorney Stephen Moore is prosecuting the case.