One of the men who gunned down a 20-year-old man in the University Oaks Plaza parking lot in Orange County last month has been arrested, while his brother remains at large, Sheriff’s deputies say.
26-year-old Nelson Vargas was taken into custody following a routine traffic stop in Jasper County in South Carolina. Investigators have charged Vargas with the murder of 20-year-old Stephen Thivierge.
Thivierge was fatally shot on November 23rd, in the University Oaks Plaza parking lot. It is believed that he was not the intended target of the shooting. Another man who was also shot, but survived and who has not been identified told investigators he was the intended target.
The unnamed man told investigators he was targeted by a Hispanic male he knew only as “June” and his brother. He said he was made aware of this recently, after he began dating a woman named Desiree Lutman, also know as Desiree Mafeo. According to investigators, Desiree is also dating “June.”
Orange County deputies are also searching for Nelson Vargas’ brother, 30-year-old Wilfredo Vargas, who remains at large.
Nelson Vargas is currently in the Orange County Jail.
Anyone with information on Wilfredo Vargas’ whereabouts is urged to call Crimeline at 407-423-TIPS.
