On what should have been a joyous celebration of his 21st birthday, Treavine Tate, a young father, was tragically shot and killed on May 30, 2022, in Schenectady, New York. The fatal encounter unfolded on Hulett Street, where an argument escalated into deadly violence. Tate, who was unarmed, was shot multiple times by Anthony Romero. Friends rushed Tate to Ellis Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into Tate's death quickly identified Anthony Romero, then 23
years old, as the suspect. The motive for the shooting was determined to be jealousy and malice over a woman both men had dated at different times. Surveillance footage from the scene captured the argument between the two men before Romero pulled out a pistol and pursued Tate into the street, firing multiple shots, even after Tate had fallen to the ground. This video evidence became a critical component of the prosecution's case.
After the shooting, Romero fled the area and remained at large for five months. He was eventually captured in Albany by U.S. Marshals. At his trial, Romero claimed he acted in self-defense, a claim that was contradicted by his own testimony that he knew Tate was unarmed. The jury rejected his self-defense argument and, in February 2024, convicted him of second-degree murder, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and tampering with physical evidence. In May 2024, Anthony Romero was sentenced to 37 years to life in prison for the murder of Treavine Tate.
