Edwin Hernandez-Medina, a 15-year-old male from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on December 18, 2021. Edwin was found unresponsive in a parking lot on Timlic Avenue, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Despite the efforts of Forsyth County EMS, Edwin succumbed to his injuries at the hospital the following day. The circumstances surrounding his death have left the community in shock and mourning.
Edwin's death is being investigated as a homicide by the
Winston-Salem Police Department. The investigation revealed that Edwin Hernandez-Medina was an associate of Edwin Cisneros-Lopez, a 20-year-old male who was also shot and killed two days later on Pitt Street in Winston-Salem. Detectives are working to determine if the two shootings are connected, although no definitive link has been established yet.
In connection with the murder of Edwin Cisneros-Lopez, Justin Neil Sydenstricker, a 33-year-old male from Pilot Mountain, was identified as a suspect. Sydenstricker has been charged with felony murder and is currently being held in the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center without bond. The investigation into Edwin Hernandez-Medina's death is ongoing, and the Winston-Salem Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in solving this case.
The tragic loss of Edwin Hernandez-Medina has left his family and friends devastated. He is survived by his parents, Eladio Hernandez and Alberta Medina Rodriquez, as well as his siblings, Brendon Medina of Winston-Salem, Inez Hernandez-Medina of Kentucky, Karla Santos of Mexico, and Kimberly Medina of Winston-Salem. A graveside service was held in his memory at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens on December 23, 2021. The community continues to grieve the loss of this young life and hopes for justice to be served.
