GBI Investigates Double Homicide

The Vidalia Police Department and Georgia Bureau of Investigation are probing the November 5 shooting deaths of two men in a Vidalia neighborhood. A third man involved in the incident is being questioned. VPD Commissioner Brian Scott said the bodies of 27-year-old Nicholas Nichols and 32-year-old Kevin Loredo, both of Vidalia, were discovered outside a residence in the 900 block of Brantley Road Thursday shortly after 11 a.m. Both men apparently died at the scene. Preliminary information indicates that 25-year-old Lenworth Welsh was involved in an armed confrontation with at least one of the men. Welsh, who alleged he acted in self-defense, is cooperating with police in the investigation and no charges have been filed. continued from page

The commissioner said authorities received an alert from the E911 Center reporting a disturbance with gunshots fired around 11 a.m. Thursday. VPD Officer Kelsey Guerra and Toombs County Sheriff Alvie Kight arrived on the scene four minutes after the alert was issued and found two victims with gunshot wounds lying in the yard of a residence.

Autopsies will be performed on the victims at the GBI Crime Lab in Pooler. “A thorough and complete investigation will be conducted. At the conclusion of the investigation, the complete case file will be provided to the Middle Circuit District Attorney’s office for review,” Scott stated.