Mobster ‘stalked’ for a week before he was shot in his driveway: police
Black Honda Civic central to investigation
• Hamilton police plan to speak to everyone in Ontario who owns a 2006 to 2011 black Honda Civic after the car was linked to the murder of a high-profile Mafia figure who was “stalked” for a week before being gunned down in his suburban driveway.
Angelo Musitano, 39, was shot at close range May 2, 2017, after arriving home in his pickup truck. The killer fled in a burgundy Ford Fusion, the same car seen the week before apparently conducting surveillance on Musitano.
Police are still studying through thousands of hours of surveillance video from various locations for the week leading up to the murder and shortly afterwards. They did not say specifically where they obtained the video beyond a variety of locations.
“A review of this video ma- terial has led investigators to believe that more than one person was involved in stalking Angelo Musitano and more than one vehicle was used to accomplish this task,” said Det. Sgt. Peter Thom of Hamilton police.
He said the spies were likely gathering information on Musitano’s movements, lifestyle and habits prior to striking.
The 2006 Ford Fusion used by the killer has been “directly linked” to a Honda Civic that police now seek. A man driving the Fusion was seen arriving and leaving in the Civic while the victim was under surveillance by those targeting him, Thom said.
What police believe to be a red 2017 Chevrolet Malibu is also twice seen on video near Musitano’s home, including on the day before the murder.
The driver of the Malibu “appeared to be watching Angelo Musitano’s residence,” said Thom. “The Malibu drove off as soon as Angelo Musitano arrived home in his white pickup truck.”
A fourth car, a grey or blue Infiniti sedan, was also seen by a witness 400 metres from Musitano’s house interacting with the driver of the Fusion in the days leading to the murder.
Police are asking for anyone with information about any of these cars or saw them in the area between April 27 and May 2, 2017, to contact investigators.
Thom said anyone in Ontario owning a 2006 to 2011 black Civic “can anticipate” a visit from police. He admitted officers have a long list from the Ministry of Trans- portation and investigators are starting with cars in the Hamilton and GTA area. A possible partial licence plate will help narrow their starting focus before expanding, he said.
“We are still working on motive,” said Thom.
The Musitano family has not been co- operating with investigators, he said.
“We have had no contact with the family to speak of.”
Family members include Pasquale ( Pat) Musitano, who is believed to have taken the reins of the family business after the death in 1995 of Dominic Musitano, the Musitano brothers’ father. Dominic was one of three notorious Mafia bosses in Hamilton over decades when the city was a key point in the mob landscape.
“It seems odd to me but traditionally people involved in the Mafia don’t normally talk to the police. Our victim here, who apparently had changed his life around, if he was out of that lifestyle, then I would have expected some more co- operation from the family.”
He said the family communicates only t hrough their long-time lawyer.
Before his death, Musitano had turned his back on his gangster life, embracing Christianity and regularly attending a Christian men’s Bible study group. He even authored a Christian testimonial published in a short book. In it he said: “I made amends with God for my mistakes and He blessed me with peace and love.”
The month after Musitano’s murder, Pat Musitano’s home in Hamilton was shot up during t he night.
When asked if police had evidence both attacks were related, Thom said: “Nothing directly, no. Is there an inference there? I would say there’s a good chance.
“We do need witnesses in this case. We’ve had a lot of intelligence information which is good for our purposes but not necessarily good for prosecutorial evidence,” said Thom.
The Musitano name has been l ong known in the underworld.
In 1999, John ( Johnny Pops) Papalia, the leading mob f i gure i n Hamilton known as “The Enforcer,” was shot dead in the parking lot of his vending machine business. Both Pat and Angelo Musitano were charged with the murder after the hit man, Ken Murdock, said the killing was ordered by the Musitanos.
The Mustiano brothers struck a deal that saw them plead guilty in the killing of Papalia’s right- hand- man Carmen Barillaro in return for charges in Papalia’s murder being dropped.
The gunman who killed Musitano is described as a white male with a stocky, athletic build who was weari ng a black toque, black jacket, grey pants and black shoes.
MUSITANO HAD TURNED HIS BACK ON HIS GANGSTER LIFE.