Jury deliberations were halted Wednesday in the trial of two men accused of killing a Philadelphia police officer and wounding his partner at the airport in 2023. Sources say the jury foreperson got sick and had to leave the Criminal Justice Center. 

After a couple of hours, an alternate juror was placed in his spot.

Sources say the jury foreperson had a medical emergency around 2 p.m. One of the alternates was tapped to fill the vacancy, and jury deliberations will begin again Thursday morning.

The 2023 shooting happened inside a parking garage at Philadelphia International Airport as Yobranny Martinez-Fernandez and Hendrick Pena-Fernandez were caught breaking into cars when they opened fire on Sgt. Richard Mendez and Officer Raul Ortiz. Mendez would later die from his injuries.

Prosecutors from the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, as well as defense attorneys for Martinez Fernandez and Pena-Fernandez, left the Criminal Justice Center without comment.

It was a long day for all involved with the trial on the third floor of the Criminal Justice Center.

During the trial, prosecutors allege Martinez Fernandez and Pena Fernandez were part of an organization that used PHL parking garages as "hunting grounds" to steal cars.

On Oct. 12, 2023, when Martinez-Fernandez and Pena-Fernandez and two other men were in the process of stealing a car, according to testimony, Mendez and Ortiz interrupted the attempted theft.

Martinez-Fernandez allegedly fired several shots, killing Mendez, wounding Ortiz and killing a man prosecutors say was a member of their crew. 

Attorneys for Martinez-Fernandez and Pena-Fernandez said their clients had no idea Mendez and Ortiz were police officers. Neither testified at trial.

Family and friends of Mendez and Ortiz were in the courtroom all day. Family members of the defendants were also in the courtroom.

Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the trial is never easy for families, but that the department will be there to support them.

"They're in the best spirits they can be," Bethel said. "This is a tragedy for them, their entire family and us a department but we'll continue to support them."

Both Martinez-Fernandez and Pena-Fernandez face the possibility of life behind bars without the possibility of parole if convicted.