Eric Mendoza, 41, of New Franklin, entered a guilty plea to a murder charge stemming from a 2022 incident that resulted in the death of 53-year-old Jeffrey Fisher. The plea was announced by Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich and confirmed that Mendoza will face sentencing by Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Joy Malek Oldfield today, according to a release from the prosecutor's office reported by Akron Beacon Journal.
The incident occurred on September 27, 2022, after Mendoza and Fisher had a "brief verbal dispute," detailed by authorities. As Fisher attempted to leave the scene on his motorcycle from Mendoza's Dailey Road residence, Mendoza shot and killed him. The Summit County Prosecutor's Office conveyed, in a news release, that Mendoza's plea to the single murder count included a firearm specification, which might increase his prison sentence. The plea also led to the dismissal of another murder count and a charge of improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation or school safety zone, which the WKYC reported.
Initially, New Franklin police responded to what appeared to be a motorcycle crash, only to discover upon arrival that Fisher had sustained shooting injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Since his arrest, Mendoza has been held at the Summit County Jail, and his bond was $1 million. Mendoza's criminal history further adds to the gravity of the situation. While he has no prior felony record in Summit County, he was convicted of a misdemeanor charge of violating a protection order in 2012, as described by WKYC.
Mendoza's trial began today but was quickly adjusted following the announcement of his plea agreement. Judge Oldfield is expected to deliver her sentencing at 1 p.m. today. In the past, Mendoza's encounters with the law have left him walking a thin line. With the substantial possibility of life imprisonment looming, that line has reached its vanishing point. This was corroborated by Cleveland19 News, which also provided footage of Mendoza's arrest in connection with the 2022 shooting.
