State of Washington v. Santiago Medero

Tacoma, Washington criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with the murder of Camille Love and wounding of her brother, Joshua Love, in Tacoma.



At the time of the murder, the Loves were driving home after watching the Super Bowl. The siblings were innocent parties who were not associated with any gangs. It is believed they were targeted because Mederos' gang mistakenly believed Joshua Love, who was wearing a red jacket, was an Eastside Piru gang member



Both Mederos and Richard Sanchez fled to Mexico and were later tracked down by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mederos was apprehended June 5, 2020, and Sanchez on February 10, 2021.



Said Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Greg Greer, "On Super Bowl Sunday 2010, Mr. Mederos and his gang wanted to commit a retaliatory shooting and were out looking for a target. Mr. Mederos was one of two shooters who murdered Camille Love and wounded her brother, Joshua, for no reason other than Joshua was wearing red and they were in a red car. It was a wanton act and a completely senseless taking of an innocent young person's life.”



"Today marks the final sentencing in a case lasting more than a decade,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle Field Office. "For years, our agents diligently investigated and pursued this fugitive even though he had fled the country. Mederos was even featured on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list from 2017 until his capture in June 2020. Tragically, no sentence can return the innocent victim to their loved ones, but thanks to the strong collaboration of our local, federal, and international partners, Mederos is facing the consequences of his violent actions.”



Mederos pleaded guilty on October 11, 2021, to one count of Murder in the First Degree with a firearm sentencing enhancement. Today in Pierce County Superior Court, Judge Bryan Chushcoff sentenced him to 361 months in prison.



Said Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett, "Mr. Mederos and Mr. Sanchez have now both had their day in court and faced justice thanks to the efforts of the FBI and the authorities in Mexico. We thank them for their help in making this happen.”

Guilty - Sentenced to 361 months in prison.