Judge reschedules trial for Logan man accused of allegedly shooting and killing co-worker

LOGAN — The case involving a 61-year-old Logan man accused of shooting and killing his co-worker in 2021 is headed for trial this summer. Lorenzo Tena-Vasquez has been in jail, held without bail, after being arrested hours after the shooting August 12, 2021.

Court records show, Tena-Vasquez appeared in 1st District Court for a hearing Wednesday afternoon. He was previously charged with one count of murder and six counts of felony discharge of a firearm, all first-degree felonies; and a seventh count of felony discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony.

Judge Brian Cannell scheduled the six-day jury trial to begin July 7. The case had been scheduled for trial in March but later postponed to give attorneys more time to prepare.

Prosecutors claim Tena-Vasquez allegedly shot and killed Arellano Nieto Yovani, a 29-year-old man, at a home construction site in Millville. He later surrendered to law enforcement, allegedly still with blood on his clothing and admitting he had shot the man. The suspected weapon was later located inside his truck.

Tena-Vasquez reportedly told deputies that he and Yovani had been in an argument earlier that morning about his work, in which the victim had threatened him. He said that after the fight he left the job site and went back to his home and was fearful and angry about having been threatened. He took a handgun and returned to the construction site, finding Yovani in a basement room and shooting him six-seven times.

An autopsy later determined there were six gunshot wounds in Yovani’s torso and one in the leg. Some of the bullets punctured his right lung, liver, pancreas and intestines.

Tena-Vasquez’s defense attorney, Bryan Sidwell has claimed his client acted in self defense after being threatened with a knife. He has also said Yovani had ties to a Mexican cartel.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Judge Brian Cannell set a final pretrial hearing in the case for May 3.

Tena-Vasquez was previously bound over for trial during a preliminary hearing in October 2021, where prosecutors showed dozens of photographs from the crime scene. He has pleaded “not guilty” to the charges and could face up to life in prison, if convicted.

Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.


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