Man pleads not guilty to Gentry murder

Martin Tavarez-Torres, arrested in connection with murder, Nov. 10, 2021
Martin Tavarez-Torres, arrested in connection with murder, Nov. 10, 2021

BENTONVILLE -- A man pleaded not guilty to a charge accusing him of killing a coworker at a Gentry restaurant.

Martin E. Tavarez-Torres is charged with capital murder. He pleaded not guilty Thursday at his arraignment before Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green.

If convicted, he'll be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Thomas Gean, the deputy prosecutor, waived the death penalty at the hearing.

Tavarez-Torres, 21, is accused of acting with premeditation and deliberation in causing the death of Fidel Mercado Reyes.

Reyes was pronounced dead on Nov. 10 at Siloam Springs Regional Hospital. He was shot once in the back of the head, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Reyes was a cook at La Huerta in Gentry. Police were called to the restaurant in response to the shooting. The restaurant staff told police the shooter was the nephew of the restaurant's owner and had started working there that week, according to the affidavit.

Another employee at the restaurant told police she heard what sounded like an explosion in the kitchen, according to the affidavit. She said Tavarez-Torres ran past her and out the door and then she saw Reyes lying on the floor, according to the affidavit.

Tavarez-Torres fled the scene in his pickup. He was arrested in Fayetteville after police learned his brother lived there, according to the affidavit.

Marlenne Navarette-Flores, Reyes' sister-in-law, told police she believed the shooting may have been over a slot machine ticket Reyes won at Cherokee Casino in West Siloam Springs, Okla., according to the affidavit. Police found the winning ticket in Reyes' jacket at the restaurant, according to the affidavit.

Reyes' brother, Victor Reyes, told police his brother was trying to help a new employee by allowing him to stay at his home and the two went to work together in Tavarez-Torres' pickup, according to the affidavit.

Tavarez-Torres' next court appearance is set for March 3.

He is being held without bond in the Benton County Jail.

Tracy M. Neal can be reached by email at [email protected].