Haines City, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Richard Vitiritti (DOB 10/20/1947) and charged him with Attempted First Degree Murder.
Here is an excerpt from Vitiritti’s arrest affidavit (It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the law enforcement. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. The Daily Ridge does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to their own understanding and conclusions) :
“On 10/22/22, at approximately 2015 hours, the victims, REDACTED, were traveling westbound on Hatchineha Rd, Haines City when they drove passed the suspect, Richard Vitiritti’s residence located at 14030 Hatchinaha Rd. As they passed the residence they heard a gunshot and realized the projectile had struck their vehicle. The projectile struck the lower right passenger door and exited out the right front wheel well.
Throughout the day the victims, REDACTED were at REDACTED’s, residence located at REDACTED Hatchineha Rd helping with the construction of his home. This residence is, REDACTED, down from Richard’s residence. At approximately 1900 hours, Richard crossed the road to confront everyone at the residence due to the noise of the construction equipment. Richard began to yell at the victim, REDACTED, and others helping with the construction.
Richard returned to his residence while the victim, REDACTED, went down the road to a local restaurant for dinner with their family. During that time, Richard entered his residence and retrieved a firearm from a dresser in his bedroom. Richard instructed his wife to turn off all the lights as he went to his carport and sat in the dark.
After dinner at approximately 2015 hours, the victim, REDACTED,was driving and REDACTED was in the passenger seat, as they traveled down Hatchineha Rd while the rest of their family walked back to REDACTED residence. As the victim, REDACTED, passed his family walking, he honked his horn. When the victim, REDACTED, drove passed Richards residence, Richard shot one time from his firearm. The witness, REDACTED ran towards the victims, REDACTED, vehicle when he heard the gun shot and saw the vehicle pull to the side of the road. As he was running past Richards’s residence he observed him run to his back yard where a canal is located. Richards’s wife, Cynthia Vitiritti also heard the gun shot and saw Richard run towards the canal at the back of their residence. When Richard came back into the residence she asked if he shot the gun, Richard told her that he threw the gun in the canal.
I read Richard his Miranda Rights at 0015 hours from my agency issued Miranda Card. Richard stated he was upset because they were still making noise at 1900 hours. He got into an argument with them about the construction. Richard stated after arguing with them he came into his house and got his father’s firearm from the dresser. He had his wife turn off all the lights and he sat under his carport to wait for them to come back. When he heard a vehicle honk, he shot once towards the vehicle. Richard stated he meant to shoot above the vehicle. Richard stated he ran back to his dock and threw the firearm in the canal.
A spent 40 caliber casing was located under Richards’s carport, and the projectile was located in the roadway in front of his residence.
Based upon the inv estigation, interviews with the victims, witnesses and suspect, I have probable to believe that Richard committed the act of Attempted 1st degree Murder and Criminal Mischief when he sat and waited for the victims for almost an hour to return and shot directly at their vehicle causing damage. He is also charged with Discharging a Firearm in a Residential Area, and Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle. The shooting at the vehicle was imminently dangerous and demonstrated a depraved mind without regard for human life. A person of ordinary judgment would know the act of shooting towards a vehicle is certain to kill or do serious bodily injury to the occupants or others around them. The incident occurred in a residential area with occupied homes. Richard also committed the act of Tampering with Physical Evidence when he threw the firearm in the canal.
Due to the suspect, Richard Vitiritti retrieving the firearm and waiting for almost an hour for the victim’s to drive by the residence this shows the act was premeditated. The charge of Attempted First Degree Murder with a weapon is being charged.”
