2 Men Arraigned in Connection with Tyler Zanco’s Murder

Two men were arraigned Wednesday on charges related to the March 20 shooting death of Waltham High senior Tyler Zanco.

The alleged triggerman, Domingo Mendes, 22, of Belmont, was arraigned on the following charges: murder, carrying a firearm, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Woburn Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Matthew Day ordered Mendes held without bail, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

Taylor Poulin, 21, of Waltham, was arraigned on possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, accessory after the fact to murder, carrying a firearm, attempt to commit a crime, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, conspiracy to distribute a Class D substance, possession with intent to distrubte a Class D substance (two counts) and a park zone violation.

Day ordered Poulin held on $250,000 cash bail with the conditions that he wear a GPS bracelet and be under house arrest if he should post.

The two men are due back in court at 9 a.m. July 29 for a pre-trial hearing.

According to authorities, Mendes and Poulin traveled to Waltham’s Gardencrest Apartments on Middlesex Circle that night to sell Zanco, 17, a large quantity of marijuana and then rob someone else. However, Zanco first attempted to rob Poulin, authorities said, at which point, Poulin struck him with a handgun.

Mendes then got the weapon from Poulin and fired, according to authorities. Mendes allegedly fired at least twice more when Zanco tried to flee. One of the shots hit Zanco in the back, causing his fatal injuries, authorities said. Zanco was pronounced dead at Newton-Wellesley Hospital that night.

Poulin was arrested in Maine on March 26; Mendes turned himself in on April 17.

During the investigation, police discovered that Poulin was involved in a “large scale” drug dealing operation, according to the district attorney’s office. Police recovered thousands of dollars worth of marijuana and $7,000 in cash from Poulin’s Waltham apartment and thousands of dollars more in marijuana at a storage facility he had rented, authorities said.