A Guatemalan illegal immigrant accused of killing a police officer last year has been released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.
Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, 19, was charged with aggravated manslaughter of an officer after a scuffle involving several law enforcement officers in May 2023.
St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Michael Kunovich died as a result of the incident, but charges against Mendez were dropped last month.
On Friday, Aguilar Mendez’s lawyer, Phillip Arroyo, shared a TikTok video showing the moment Mendez was released for the first time since May 2023.
The video shows the teen smiling and nodding while speaking with Arroyo as they walk toward a camera.
The case has raised questions about law enforcement actions, immigrant rights, and the complexities of criminal justice. Regardless, Aguilar Mendez’s release marks a significant development in this high-profile legal saga.
