Frank Vitale was looking forward to a new chapter. The 66-year-old had spent years working at Home Depot on Long Island, New York, and had recently bought a home in Arizona where he planned to retire alongside his sister. But that future was stolen from him in an instant—shot dead in a parking lot by someone he never met.
Background
Vitale had just finished eating lunch at Number 1 Buffet in Avondale, Arizona, on Oct. 14, 2024, when his life was cut short. Surveillance video captured the moment as he sat alone in his car in the restaurant's parking lot. That's when Roberto Antonio Trejo approached without warning.
The 22-year-old suspect slid a handgun through Vitale's car window and fired, prosecutors said. Trejo then fled the area while looking over his shoulder, according to local CBS affiliate KPHO. Authorities took him into custody approximately 45 minutes later—a gun still on him.
Investigators quickly determined there was no apparent motive for the killing. The two men were strangers with no prior connection. For Vitale's family, the randomness of the violence made an already incomprehensible loss even more devastating.
The Charges
Roberto Antonio Trejo faced a second-degree murder charge in Maricopa County Superior Court. He pleaded guilty to the charge in April 2025 and was sentenced to 20 years in Arizona state prison, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office confirmed.
County Attorney Rachel Mitchell issued a statement condemning the senseless act. "At 20 years old, he had the opportunity to improve his behavior but instead chose to do the unimaginable and take a life," Mitchell said. "Thanks to the work of homicide prosecutor Daniel Strange, this defendant will no longer be a threat to the community."
Court records revealed that Trejo had only been released from prison five months before the shooting, having served time for an aggravated assault conviction. He remained on probation at the time of Vitale's death.
Key Takeaways
- Frank Vitale, 66, was killed while sitting in his car after eating lunch at Number 1 Buffet in Avondale, Arizona
- Roberto Antonio Trejo, 22, approached Vitale's vehicle and fired through the window without warning or apparent motive
- The victim and suspect were strangers with no prior connection
- Trejo had been released from prison just five months earlier and was on probation at the time of the shooting
- Vitale had recently purchased a home in Arizona where he planned to retire with his sister after working at Home Depot on Long Island, New York
What's Next
Trejo is now serving his 20-year sentence in the Arizona Department of Corrections. While the criminal case has concluded with his guilty plea and sentencing, family members continue to grieve the loss of a man whose retirement dreams ended in tragedy.