22-YEAR-OLD SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR RANDOMLY KILLING MAN AFTER BUFFET LUNCH
AVONDALE, Arizona — A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the random killing of a 66-year-old man outside an Arizona buffet nearly two years ago.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced that Roberto Antonio Trejo was sentenced last month after pleading guilty to the second-degree murder of Frank Anthony Vitale.
Authorities said the shooting happened around 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 14, 2024, in the parking lot of Number 1 Buffet in Avondale. Prosecutors said Vitale had just finished lunch and was sitting in the front seat of his vehicle when Trejo approached and, without warning, shot him through the car window before fleeing the scene.
Vitale died at the scene.
Police officers, assisted by the Avondale Police Real Time Crime Center, located and arrested Trejo nearby within minutes of the shooting.
Investigators said there was no known relationship between Trejo and Vitale and believe the attack was random.
According to prosecutors, Trejo had been released from prison approximately five months before the shooting and was on supervised probation at the time.
Vitale had recently purchased a home in Arizona and was preparing for retirement. Prosecutors said he had arrived in the state just two days before he was killed and planned to move into the home with his sister.
In April, Trejo pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder as part of a plea agreement that dismissed two additional charges.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said the sentence ensures Trejo “will no longer be a threat to the community.”
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