TYLER, Texas — The trial for a Smith County business owner accused of killing a 19-year-old on the Fourth of July has been set for next spring.
Seferino Bautista-Renteria, 35, is charged with murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, tampering or fabricating evidence and deadly conduct by discharge of a firearm in connection with the shooting that killed Rawly "Eli" Sanchez.
During a pre-trial hearing in the 114th District Court, Bautista-Renteria's trial was set for March 31. His next pre-trial hearing is scheduled for March 14, according to judicial records.
Documents say Sanchez was fatally shot in the back of the head when he and his friends were making a U-turn behind Bautista Auto Sales, located in the 3700 block of US Highway 271 in Tyler, to correct a previous wrong turn.
Sanchez and his friends were leaving a friend's home and going south on Highway 271. The driver turned onto Old Gladewater Highway, but they realized it would not lead to Montgomery Gardens. So the driver made a U-Turn behind Bautista's Auto Sales.
The driver told police they saw a person come out a building at the business with what looked like an AK-47 style rifle. The driver said the person shot several times at them with one of the rounds hitting Sanchez in the backseat. The driver headed straight to a Tyler hospital to get help, the affidavit said.
In police interviews, Bautista claimed he was outside the business with his young son and a truck almost hit the boy. He said he stayed inside with his son and didn't shoot a gun, according to the document.
Bautista-Renteria's son told investigators that a truck almost hit him, and after that happened, his father went back outside. The son said that's when he heard the gunshots, the affidavit read.
Corina Lizeth Bautista, 35, who also owns the business, is charged with tampering with evidence in connection with the shooting. Her next court appearance is set for Nov. 13, records show.
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