Funeral held for slain Pico Rivera man

PICO RIVERA, Calif. (KABC) -- The funeral for Frank Mendoza was held Saturday at the same church where he worshiped for years.

A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy mistook Mendoza for a dangerous armed suspect, as he tried to escape his Pico Rivera home on Aug. 1.

It was a day of mourning as his family said their final goodbyes Saturday.

"All we can do is try to stay strong together as a family, that's how our dad raised us," Frank Mendoza's son, Jeremy said.

Jeremy is fatherless due to a case of mistaken identity.

Deputies were after armed fugitive Cedric Ramirez who barricaded himself inside the Mendoza household. Frank was mistaken for the parolee as he escaped his home and was shot twice by a 13-year veteran of the force who remains unnamed.

Ramirez was killed in a gunfight after an eight hour standoff by SWAT.

Los Angeles County Sheriff John Scott has since admitted the department's wrongdoing.

"He saw that movement and he thought that was the same guy that had been shooting," Scott said. "It was a very quick and very blurry situation."

On Saturday, Frank's funeral ceremony was held in the same church he faithfully visited for years and where the 54-year-old raised his family. Fittingly, it was a packed house for this man who meant so much to so many.

Jeremy said he and his family are thankful for the support they've received from the community following the tragedy.

Mendoza is survived by his eight children, his 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.