Stefan Filipovic, a 24-year-old male from Waukegan, IL, tragically lost his life on May 29, 2022, as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. The incident occurred near Poppy’s restaurant on Washington Street in Waukegan. On that fateful day, the Waukegan Police Department responded to a report of a shooting around 4:51 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found two men with gunshot wounds to their heads on the sidewalk near the parking lot of the restaurant. Filipovic was pronounced dead at the hospital, while the second victim, a 28-year-old male from Waukegan, survived after undergoing surgery.
The investigation revealed that the shooter, identified as Jorge Medina, 20, of Waukegan, approached the victims and fired multiple shots at close range. Surveillance footage captured Medina exiting a vehicle approximately a block away from the scene and walking towards the victims before taking a shooting stance and opening fire. The vehicle, driven by Fernando Andino, 20, of Waukegan, was seen fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed. Both Medina and Andino were later apprehended by the police.
Jorge Medina was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated battery with a firearm. During his trial, it was revealed that Medina had exited the front passenger seat of a vehicle driven by Andino, walked towards the victims, and shot them in the head. Medina was convicted on August 31, 2023, and is awaiting sentencing. Fernando Andino, who acted as the getaway driver, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and aggravated fleeing and eluding. He pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery with a firearm and was sentenced to 26 years in prison on October 4, 2023.
The case drew significant attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and the young ages of those involved. The surveillance footage and eyewitness testimonies played crucial roles in securing the convictions. The families of the victims, particularly Filipovic’s parents, provided emotional impact statements during the sentencing hearings, highlighting the devastating impact of the crime on their lives. The community of Waukegan was left grappling with the senseless violence that claimed the life of a young man and altered the lives of many others.
