On a spring afternoon in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the life of a beloved local business owner was tragically cut short. Jose Antonio Salgado, a 57-year-old male immigrant from Portugal, was with his wife, Maria, preparing to close their small neighborhood market, Sapiao's Grocery on Lexington Avenue, for the day on April 11, 2015. For years, the store had been a fixture in the city's Hollow neighborhood.
Shortly before 3 p.m., two young men entered the store, not as customers, but with the intent to rob the hardworking couple.
The armed robbery quickly turned fatal when one of the assailants pointed a gun at Mr. Salgado and fired a single shot, striking him in the neck. The two men then fled the scene, leaving behind a devastating scene. Emergency services were called, and police arrived to find Jose Salgado bleeding heavily on the front step of his store with his wife by his side. The brazen crime in broad daylight shocked the community and left a family grieving a senseless loss.
The investigation into the murder swiftly identified two suspects from New Haven: 22-year-old Leighton Vanderberg and 18-year-old Treizy Lopez. A manhunt ensued for the individuals responsible. Within days, on April 16, Leighton Vanderberg was apprehended. He reportedly confessed his involvement to the police. The search for the second suspect, Treizy Lopez, continued until April 27, when he was captured in West Haven by a team of U.S. Marshals and local police.
Following the arrests, the two men faced charges of felony murder. Leighton Vanderberg ultimately pleaded guilty for his role in the fatal robbery and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. He claimed that his accomplice, Treizy Lopez, was the one who pulled the trigger. Treizy Lopez maintained his innocence and his case went to trial. The death of Jose Salgado was a profound loss for his family and the Bridgeport community he had served for years.
