Wash. man pleads not guilty in deadly NE Oregon workplace shooting

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) – A Washington state man accused in the deadly shooting of a co-worker in northeast Oregon has pleaded not guilty.

The East Oregonian reports 52-year-old Antonio Vasquez-Vargas was arraigned Monday in Umatilla County on charges of murder and felon in possession of a firearm.

Judge Cristopher Brauer entered the not guilty pleas on behalf of Vasquez-Vargas, who appeared via video hookup from the jail and spoke through an interpreter, saying Spanish is the only language he knows.

The Walla Walla man was indicted last week following the Nov. 26 shooting of 35-year-old Renee Luiz-Antonio at the Umapine Creamery where they both worked.

Vasquez-Vargas was apprehended outside a hotel in Kennewick, Washington, the next day.

Brauer kept bail for Vasquez-Vargas set at $5 million. He remains in Umatilla County Jail.

A bail hearing is scheduled for Dec. 31.

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Information from: East Oregonian, http://www.eastoregonian.com