A Lake County Judge sentenced Fernando Andino to 26 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 for his involvement in a May 2022 shooting of two Waukegan men that left one dead. Fernando Andino, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, a class X felony, on May 18, 2023.
About one year earlier on May 29, 2022 Andino had previously been charged with murder after 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. Officers testified that they were able to identify the shooter, Jorge Medina, 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 they left the scene. Fernando Andino, then 19, was originally taken into custody on Sunday, May 29, 2022, after attempting to flee officers in a high-speed chase. Andino was charged with First Degree Murder, Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, and Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Jorge Medina, 18, was taken into custody Monday morning. Medina was charged with First-Degree Murder, Attempted First-Degree Murder, and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm.
Late Tuesday evening, May 31, 2022, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed First-Degree Murder charges against the two male suspects in connection with the Waukegan shooting that took place on Sunday, May 29, 2022.
Andino was a cooperating witness for the State and testified in Jorge Medina’s trial, which concluded on August 31, 2023, with “guilty” verdicts on first-degree murder charges. Jorge Medina, 20, was convicted on one count of First-Degree Murder and one count of Attempt Murder on Thursday, August 31, 2023. Jorge Medina is awaiting sentencing.
During the sentencing hearing for Andino, Presiding Judge Daniel Shanes heard two victim impact statements from Stefan’s parents. The statements described Andino’s choices as vicious and thoughtless acts that led to Stefan’s young life being cut short. They mentioned how instead of picking out gifts for Stefan’s 25th birthday last year, they were left with picking out flowers for his funeral and asked the judge to sentence Andino appropriately for the choices he made.
Assistant State’s Attorney Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg stated that Stefan’s life was full of hope and how Andino’s actions led to the senseless, cold-blooded murder of Stefan.
“Our team, which consisted of Assistant State’s Attorneys Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg, Scott Hoffert, and Ayah Elfarra, State’s Attorney investigators, and victim specialists were able to start the process of healing for the family by earning the conviction of the shooter, Jorge Medina. Mr. Andino will now spend decades in prison because of the role he played in assisting this shooter. Neither Medina nor Andino had prior convictions. When we think about young individuals gaining access to guns and solving their disputes violently, it is clear we need to push deeper into root causes even as we also sentence these offenders to decades in prison after the fact.”
— Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart
Andino had been held on a $3 million bond in the Lake County Jail from the time of his arrest until entering a “guilty” plea. After pleading guilty, Judge Shanes revoked his ability to post bond.
The 26-year sentence is to be served at 85%.
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