Killer’s sentence increased

Kim Smith

Wednesday, March 8, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

A 22-year-old Las Vegas man convicted in December in the "thrill" killing of a Pizza Hut worker and the attempted murder of another will have to serve at least 50 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

This morning District Judge Joseph Bonaventure, saying that he wanted to get some justice for a survivor of the attack, gave Tony Amati two 20-year sentences on top of the life sentences already given to him by a jury.

The 20-year sentences are to be served consecutively to each other and consecutive to the life sentences. Once parole eligibility is factored in, Amati will have to serve 50 years before he can be released.

Police were investigating the burglary of a West Sahara Avenue guns store when they discovered 23 stolen guns in Amati's possession and realized that three were linked to three unrelated slayings near UNLV.

The first victim was Michael John Matta, 27, who was shot near Hacienda Avenue and Maryland Parkway while rummaging through Dumpsters.

The second victim was John Garcia, 48, who was shot in his garage near Tropicana Avenue and Maryland Parkway.

Keith Dyer, 22, was the third victim. He and fellow Pizza Hut employee, Stacie Dooley, were walking on Maryland Parkway when they were approached by three men, who they believed planned to rob them.

There was a shout and one of the men, later identified as Amati, opened fire. Dyer was struck by 13 bullets and Dooley suffered a leg wound.

Blood at the scene and blood found on a gun found at Amati's house matched, thus linking him to the third incident, however, no evidence was found to place Amati at the scenes of the other two slayings.

In December, Amati was convicted of first-degree murder in Dyer's death and the attempted murder of Dooley, but he was acquitted on the other charges.

The jury opted against a death sentence and gave Amati the two parole-eligible life sentences, thus leaving Bonaventure to sentence him on the attempted murder charge. He gave Amati the maximum sentence allowable.

Charges against the two men who were believed to be with Amati during the three killings were dismissed due to lack of evidence.