In the winter of 2017, the life of 26-year-old Melissa Mendez was tragically cut short in a violent act that unfolded at her place of employment in Avondale, Arizona. A dedicated employee at Best Buy for seven years, Mendez was a well-liked colleague and a mother. Her life, however, was marked by a history of domestic violence that ultimately led to her untimely death.
On a Monday afternoon in late February, chaos erupted outside the Best Buy store located near 99th Avenue and McDowell
Road. Numerous callers reported shots fired, sending shoppers and employees scrambling for safety. When police arrived, they found Melissa Mendez and 27-year-old Henry Cota, Jr. with gunshot wounds. Investigators determined that an argument between Mendez and Cota, who had a history of domestic violence, began outside the store. As Mendez attempted to flee back into the building, Cota opened fire.
Tragically, Melissa Mendez succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Her death was the result of a senseless act of domestic violence, leaving behind her children, family, and friends to grapple with the sudden and profound loss. The incident also brought an end to the life of the suspect, Henry Cota, Jr., who died from what was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The weapon believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered at the scene. In the wake of this tragedy, Best Buy closed the Avondale store to provide counseling for its employees and expressed their condolences to Mendez's loved ones.
