Orange County Man Charged with Murder, Attempted Murder, after Confrontation at Garnerville 7-Eleven

A family of eight, including six children, was allegedly run down on purpose by a man in North Rockland who had gotten into an argument with the father over smoking. Haverstraw Police say the mother of the family died after the incident went down yesterday afternoon at the 7-Eleven on Central Highway in Garnerville. A 7-Eleven employee told WABC-TV a man smoking outside the store became enraged with the father who asked him to stop. 35 year-old Jason Mendez of Washingtonville reportedly got into his car and drove into the store striking all of the man’s family members, and then ran back over them as he drove out. Victims were taken to area hospitals. Mendez reportedly refused to drop a knife when approached by police, who then Tased him. Mendez was charged with second degree murder and 7 counts of attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned last night.