In a tragic turn of events, a dispute between roommates in a Gilbert, Arizona, home culminated in the death of 41-year-old Daniel Garofalo on Sunday, August 21, 2016. The male victim was shot and killed in the residence he shared with his alleged attacker. The incident, which shattered the quiet of the suburban neighborhood, was followed by a chilling admission to law enforcement.
The sole suspect in the case, 21-year-old Zachary Penton, was taken into custody after he himself contacted
the police and confessed to shooting his roommate. The conflict reportedly arose from Garofalo’s request that Penton vacate the premises. Investigators were also looking into a disturbing social media post made by an account believed to belong to Penton just two days prior to the fatal shooting, which read, “I need to move out of my place before I viciously murder my roommates.”
Following his arrest, Penton claimed he had acted in self-defense, fearing for his own safety during the argument with Garofalo. Authorities were weighing the evidence, including the social media activity, to determine if the act was premeditated, which could lead to a charge of first-degree murder. Penton was booked into custody as the investigation into the violent death of Daniel Garofalo continued.
