Luxury Car Was Weapon In Fatal 7-Eleven Attack: Police

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — The man who rammed his car into a family of eight Wednesday, killing the mother, was driving a luxury Infiniti automobile. The only contact he had with the family was at 1:50 p.m. outside the 7-Eleven in Garnerville, when the father asked him not to smoke near the kids, police said.

After Sean Deloatch confronted Jason Mendez about the cigarette, Mendez got into his 2013 Infiniti and rammed the family, including a baby in a stroller, up against the wall of the convenience store, police allege. He then backed up for a second, and plowed into the family again.

Carla DeLoatch's family members called the 32-year-old a hero for jumping in front to protect her kids.

Police charged Mendez, who brandished a knife at them and resisted arrest, with:

• 1 count of second-degree murder
• 7 counts of second-degree attempted murder
• 1 count of second-degree menacing
• 2 counts criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree
• 1 count of resisting arrest

Prosecutors will take the case to a Rockland grand jury next week, The Journal News reported. They will be seeking a murder charge indictment.

Mendez, 35, had lived in Texas for several years, where he had a history of assault and intoxication charges, TJN reported. His family lives in Garnerville and Mendez lived with them for a time after returning from Texas.

His current residence is in Washingtonville, in Orange County, police said.

SEE ALSO:

• Driver Accused Of Plowing Into Family Is Hudson Valley Resident
  
• Cousin Raising Money For Family Of Mom Killed At 7-Eleven
  
• Driver Rams Family Twice, Kills Mom After 7-11 Argument: Police