El Paso Police release timeline of events in alleged murder involving EPISD teacher

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Court documents from the El Paso Police Department provide a timeline of events from an alleged murder involving EPISD Special Education teacher, 25-year-old Matthew Jacob Mendoza.

According to the documents, on August 29th, 2021, Mendoza, the victim Eric Hernandez, and a witness were drinking beers at Red Sands.

Investigators say Hernandez and and Mendoza began arguing, and court documents state the victim was drunk and became aggressive. Hernandez began to hit Mendoza's hat, even when Mendoza repeatedly told him to stop, according to court documents.

Mendoza and the witness then left Hernandez at Red Sands. Investigators say the two then went to eat and started receiving messages from the victim that EPPD referred to as "threatening".

Investigators ay they believe Mendoza and the witness then returned to Mendoza's home, located on Amstater Circle in east El Paso. They say both men were outside the home when they saw the victim walking towards them.

Mendoza and victim allegedly began to fight and wrestle. Court documents say that Mendoza left Hernandez laying on the driveway and went inside his home.

Police were later called out to the scene and found the victim unresponsive. He was taken to Del Sol Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Officers say they then spoke with Mendoza and the witness. Mendoza reportedly told police that he was in a fight with Hernandez.

Mendoza was arrested Thursday at MacArthur K-8 School, where he was employed as a teacher.