On a summer day in Surprise, Arizona, a dispute over an air conditioning repair tragically escalated, ending the life of 41-year-old Frank Pineda on July 20, 2018. Pineda, a homeowner in the area of Citrus Road and Grand Avenue, had called for a repairman to service his air conditioning unit. The serviceman, identified as 26-year-old Robert Moore of Arrowhead Aire, arrived at the residence to perform the requested work.
An altercation erupted between Pineda and Moore, the specific details of which remain contested.
During the course of the argument, Moore produced a firearm and shot Pineda. Emergency services were called to the scene around 3:30 p.m., and Pineda was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Moore turned himself in to the authorities without incident and was initially cooperative with the investigation. He was arrested and subsequently charged with second-degree murder in connection with Pineda's death.
Moore claimed that he acted in self-defense, stating that Pineda had attacked and repeatedly punched him, causing him to fear for his life. However, police investigators reported that they found no physical evidence, such as bruises, on Moore to support his claim of being attacked. The case proceeded to trial, where the events leading up to the fatal shooting were examined. In November 2019, a jury found Robert Moore not guilty of second-degree murder.
