Chad Medlin

Chad Nathen Medlin, a 36-year-old White man, was a devoted firefighter, U.S. Army veteran, and beloved family man in his community of Eau Claire, Michigan. Known for his humorous and charming personality, he was described as the life of the party and a loving father to his three children and three stepchildren. His obituary remembered a generous spirit and unwavering love that touched all who knew him. In addition to serving with the Eau Claire Fire Department, which he considered a second family, Chad was a proud racecar driver at the Hartford Speedway.

In the early morning hours of November 2, 2024, a verbal altercation that started at a local bar spilled out onto the street. Just before 1 a.m., near the intersection of Main and Elm Streets in Eau Claire, Chad Medlin was shot. When police arrived, they found him unresponsive. A second man, age 39, was also found with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Both men were transported to a hospital, where Medlin was pronounced dead.

Thanks to witness cooperation, investigators quickly identified 47-year-old Rigoberto Gomez of Eau Claire as a suspect, and he was taken into custody. The investigation also implicated two women who assisted Gomez after the shooting. Elizabeth Harper of Stevensville was charged with being an accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence. A third individual, Pamela Darlene Scott, was arrested more than a year later.

During Rigoberto Gomez’s trial, the prosecution presented a range of evidence. Jurors saw body camera footage from the first responding officer, the handgun used in the shooting, and a copper shell casing found at the scene. A crime lab technician testified that a fingerprint on the gun’s magazine was a match to Gomez's right thumb. A tool mark examiner confirmed the gun was the same one that fired a projectile recovered from the second victim’s arm, and a forensic scientist reported a high likelihood that Gomez’s DNA was present on collected evidence.

On November 20, 2025, a jury found Gomez guilty on all eight counts against him. For the primary charge, he was convicted of second-degree murder, as the jury determined the killing was not premeditated. At his sentencing hearing on January 12, 2026, Medlin’s mother and eldest daughter gave emotional victim impact statements. The judge sentenced Gomez to 50 years in prison for the murder, which will be served after he completes a consecutive two-year sentence for a felony firearm conviction.

The case had one final development in January 2026, when authorities arrested 45-year-old Pamela Darlene Scott. She was charged with accessory after the fact and lying to police during a violent crime investigation.