WEST VALLEY CITY — West Valley police are still trying to determine what led to the stabbing death of a man outside an apartment complex in July.
Fidenzo Urcino, 20, was fatally stabbed early in the morning on July 11 following an altercation. His body was found on the lawn of an apartment complex at 1501 W. 2320 South.
David Louis Candelario, 21, of Salt Lake City, was arrested for investigation of murder two days later. No charges had been filed as of Tuesday, and Candelario has been released from jail.
New details about the case came forth in a series of search warrants unsealed in 3rd District Court this week served by West Valley police detectives.
A man was throwing a going-away party that night in one of the apartment units, according to court records.
"During the party, a male that he did not know arrived with several other unknown persons," according to one of the search warrant affidavits.
That man, wearing all red clothing, was Urcino, the warrant stated. About an hour later, Candelario, a friend of the apartment owner, arrived at the party.
Almost immediately, "(Urcino) and (Candelario) became engaged in an argument trying to fight one another," according to the warrant. "(Urcino) brandished a firearm and told (Candelario), 'I’m not afraid!'"
Both men were then asked to leave the party by the tenant.
"Both parties were forced out of the residence separately. … Less than 30 seconds passed before he heard the sound of gunshots coming from the front of his residence," according to the warrant.
The apartment owner saw Urcino lying in the grass and two other men shooting in the direction of where Candelario had parked his car, according to the warrant.
Another man who had driven Candelario to the party and was waiting at the car saw both men outside the apartment after they were kicked out.
"He saw (Urcino) push David and then saw (Urcino) reach in the waist band of his pants. (The man) said that (Urcino) was reaching in his pants for a gun," according to the warrant.
As the man turned to get into the car, he said, he heard three to four shots and then saw Candelario run toward him. The two got into the car and drove away.
Urcino died from stab wounds to his neck and torso. Candelario suffered a cut to his hand, the warrant stated.
Police noted in their warrants the trouble they were having finding witnesses, even though an estimated 40 to 50 people were at the party, the warrant stated.
"Investigators discovered hundreds of empty beer cans, drug paraphernalia, marijuana, a firearm and ammunition," the warrant served at the apartment stated.
Many of the people involved in the case are documented gang members, according to police.
"Your affiant knows from training and experience that members of gangs will not cooperate with criminal investigations," one officer wrote in his warrant.
As part of their investigation, West Valley detectives served multiple warrants on cellphones seized from witnesses and acquaintances of the Urcino and Candelario.
Email: preavy@deseretnews.com
Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam