BRONX, NY – On Monday, Rafael Morato, a 49-year-old Bronx resident, was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the fatal shooting of his boss.
Bronx Supreme Court Justice Jeanette Rodriguez-Morick passed the sentence.
The incident occurred on July 5, 2019, when Morato and the victim, Ostilio Salerno, engaged in a dispute. The argument escalated, and Morato shot Salerno twice.
When police arrived, Morato initially claimed the victim had shot himself. However, investigation analysis revealed the shots had been fired from Morato’s bedroom.
He was found guilty of second-degree murder on March 6, 2023, following a jury trial.