A Lancaster County jury today convicted a city man of shooting a bystander to death during an argument outside a party following a five-day trial last week.

The jury found Steffen Vadoria Tidwell Jr., of the 600 block of North Queen Street, guilty of voluntary manslaughter and a summary charge of discharging a firearm.

Tidwell, 31, shot and struck 26-year-old Jomar Almestica six times outside a party in the 600 block of Hebrank Street in Lancaster city the night of Aug. 20, 2021.

Testifying on his own behalf, Tidwell claimed that Almestica was armed with a weapon and that he shot him “first,” before Almestica could harm anyone. Tidwell also testified that he fled the scene and then tampered with evidence by throwing away the gun.

But Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo, who prosecuted the case, demonstrated throughout the trial that no evidence supported Tidwell’s claims that Almestica was armed. Additionally, Collo argued that Almestica didn’t harm anyone that evening and noted that Tidwell was unable to identify who he would have harmed.

And, Collo argued, the argument which led to Almestica being shot and killed only began when Tidwell produced the illegally acquired gun from his car and returned to the discussion.

During the trial Collo played residential surveillance videos which included audio of the events leading up to the shooting as well as the shooting itself, in which multiple people could be heard begging for calm in the situation. Collo also played 911 calls from witnesses desperately asking for help after the shooting and footage from the body cameras of police officers who responded to the scene.

The jury returned a guilty verdict after two days of deliberation.

Judge Dennis Reinaker, who presided over the trial, is scheduled to sentence Tidwell at a later date.

Almestica was observing the argument from the front steps of a nearby residence when Tidwell shot him shortly after 10 p.m. Almestica was taken to a nearby hospital where he died a little over an hour later.

Both Tidwell and Almestica had attended a party at the residence that evening. At some point during the gathering an argument began and Tidwell brandished a handgun.

Though Almestica was not involved in the argument, Tidwell pointed the weapon at him and fired five times.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Austin Krause filed the charges.