Jacob Walsh, 32, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of February 15, 2025, in the parking lot of the Tops grocery store in Mexico, New York. The confrontation began after Walsh and a longtime friend, who had been walking and dumpster diving, noticed a black pickup truck they believed was following them. They hid in a dumpster but the truck returned with its high beams on, and a man later identified as 31-year-old Zachary W. Chilson exited the vehicle and argued with Walsh.

The argument turned physical. Walsh reportedly gained the upper hand, but as Chilson broke free and walked back to his truck he fired one shot that struck Walsh in the chest. Chilson fled in a dark-colored Chevrolet pickup; state police located and arrested him later the same day. He was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and was remanded to the Oswego County Jail without bail after his February 16, 2025 arraignment. Chilson told investigators he acted in self-defense and said Walsh and his companion had thrown snowballs at his truck, a detail the witness with Walsh did not report. The investigation is ongoing. Jacob’s family remembers him as a kind, selfless father to four children.

Did anyone in the Mexico area see or hear anything in that parking lot around 2:54 a.m. on February 15?