Jorge Medina, 20, was convicted on one count of First-Degree Murder and one count of Attempt Murder. 

After the verdict, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said, “The trial team which consisted of Assistant State’s Attorneys Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg, Scott Hoffert, and Ayah Elfarra, State’s Attorney investigators, and victim specialists all did fantastic work to bring justice for the victims and their families. This type of calculated attack warrants a very high prison sentence in order to protect the community and to tell others when you engage in violence, you will face arrest and severe consequences. The Waukegan Police Department conducted a thorough and effective investigation at the outset that was necessary for yesterday’s verdict, and we thank them.” 

On May 29, 2022, Waukegan Police Officers responded to a report of persons shot near a local restaurant parking lot. When officers arrived, they found two men with gunshot wounds. One survived, and the other, identified as Stefan Filipovic, succumbed to his injuries later that day in the hospital.  

The trial began on Monday, August 28, 2023, lasting four days. The jury heard from more than a dozen State witnesses, including law enforcement officers who described how they were able to retrieve multiple surveillance videos from nearby businesses and residences, including video of the shooting. 

Officers testified that they were able to identify the shooter through eyewitnesses and surveillance footage of Medina’s house. The surveillance video shows Medina entering the vehicle of Fernando Andino. Andino testified in the trial that he dropped off Medina near a local restaurant and that Medina proceeded to walk toward the parking lot where Medina shot both victims. After the shooting, Andino picked up Medina, and left the scene. 

Forensic experts explained how firearm residue was found in a piece of clothing that was collected from Medina’s residence, and matched the description of what the shooter was wearing. State’s Attorney Cyber Lab Director JB Brooks testified that forensic analysis revealed how calls were made between Medina and Andino around the same time of the shooting.  

Andino faces up to 30 years to be served at 85% for his role in the shooting, and Medina faces somewhere between 45 years to life in the Illinois Department of Corrections, to be served at 100%.