In the late hours of March 20, 2014, the life of 17-year-old White male, Tyler Zanco, was cut tragically short in the parking lot of the Gardencrest Apartments in his hometown of Waltham, Massachusetts. A senior at Waltham High School, Zanco was known as a captain of the wrestling team and a multi-sport athlete who also played football and lacrosse. The events that led to his death began to unfold over what authorities described as a drug deal gone wrong, rooted in a desire for retaliation.
The incident was reportedly set in motion after Zanco’s cousin was allegedly cheated in a marijuana transaction by 21-year-old Taylor Poulin. Seeking retribution, Zanco arranged to meet Poulin at the apartment complex under the guise of another drug deal. During the arranged meeting, an altercation broke out. It was alleged that Zanco used a stun gun on Poulin. At that point, 22-year-old Domingo Mendes, who had accompanied Poulin to the meeting, became involved in the struggle.
During the chaotic confrontation, Mendes gained control of a handgun that Poulin had brought. As Zanco attempted to flee the scene, Mendes fired multiple shots. One of the bullets struck the teenager in the back, inflicting a fatal wound. Zanco was rushed to Newton-Wellesley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead that evening. In the immediate aftermath, Mendes and Poulin fled the area, first heading to Boston where they abandoned their vehicle, and then to Lowell.
An investigation was launched, and arrest warrants were issued for both Mendes and Poulin. Six days after the shooting, on March 26, Taylor Poulin was located by U.S. Marshals and local police in Windham, Maine, and was arrested as a fugitive from justice. He was later returned to Massachusetts to face charges that included accessory after the fact to murder, possession of a firearm, and various drug offenses. On April 17, 2014, the alleged shooter, Domingo Mendes, turned himself in to the Waltham Police. He was charged with murder, conspiracy, and illegal possession of a firearm. In November 2016, a jury found Domingo Mendes guilty of second-degree murder, and he was subsequently sentenced to life in prison.
