The city of Philadelphia has agreed to pay a $3 million settlement to the family of a 12-year-old boy who was fatally shot in the back by a police officer, their attorney announced. The encounter began when four officers in plain clothes in an unmarked car spotted Thomas "T.J." Siderio and a 17-year-old friend riding their bikes in March 2022. The officers believed Siderio's friend was "tangentially connected to a stolen firearm investigation involving a third person" and initiated a stop, though their purported reasons for doing so varied, according to a grand jury findings. At nearly the same time that the undercover car's flashing lights were activated, a gunshot shattered the rear passenger side window sending shards of glass into one of the officer's faces. The grand jury concluded Siderio had "likely fired" a weapon into the car as it was pulling up. The other officers took cover as they heard more shots being fired. But one of the undercover officers who later plead guilty to murder, Edsaul Mendoza, pursued Siderio in a "tactically unsound foot chase" and shot at him, the grand jury found. After Siderio discarded a gun, Mendoza fired again. Siderio then either fell or dove to the ground, and Mendoza fired a final shot into his back from less than10feet away. The gunshot killed him within 90 seconds, according to court documents. Less than a minute later, Mendoza told another officer where Siderio had thrown the gun. "Thus, when PO Mendoza fired the third and fatal shot, he knew that 12-year-old, 5 foot tall, 111-pound Thomas Siderio no longer had a gun, and therefore, no ability to harm him," the grand jury found. Siderio family filed a federal lawsuit in January 2024 against the city and Mendoza, calling the incident an "execution style" shooting and "an abysmal systemic policy failure." But before the case could go to trial, it was resolved through discussions with the city and a private mediator, according to family attorney Michael Budner. "Obviously, this lawsuit is only one component of their grief journey," Budner told USA TODAY. "Certainly, this somewhat brings some semblance of justice to the family and to T.J.'s honor. But as you can imagine, nothing will bring back their child." Police commissioner:Philadelphia officer who fatally shot 12-year-old boy in the back will be fired Mendoza was fired after the shootingand agrand jury recommended he be chargedwith first-degree murder, third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and possession of an instrument of a crime. In 2024,Mendoza pleaded guiltyto third-degree murder and possession of an instrument of a crime and was sentenced to between 8 and 20 years in prison. "Justice must be even-handed. Everyone must be accountable under the law," Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasnersaid in a statement on social mediafollowing the guilty plea. A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department directed questions to the city's law office. The city and an attorney for Mendoza did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Police killing of 12-year-old leads to $3M settlement for family