Angelo Musitano’s killer didn’t act alone: police
Search on for up to four ‘stalking’ vehicles used in murder, identified through neighbourhood surveillance cameras
HAMILTON POLICE now have evidence that more than one person — and as many as four vehicles — were involved in the “stalking” of mobster Angelo Musitano in the week before he was executed in the driveway of his Waterdown home.
At a news conference Thursday, homicide detectives released images showing what’s been long suspected: the killer did not act alone.
The pictures found in “thousands of hours” of surveillance studied by police, show two vehicles seen in the lead-up to the May 2 shooting. Police also described a third vehicle seen before the 39-year-old Musitano was shot outside his 14 Chesapeake Dr. home.
“A review of this material has led investigators to believe that more than one person was involved in the stalking of Angelo Musitano, and more than one vehicle was used to accomplish this task,” said homicide unit Det. Sgt. Peter Thom.
Police previously released the image of the stolen burgundy Ford Fusion driven by the killer, and seen in the neighbourhood the week before the killing.
It was found abandoned at Fenton Drive and Braeheid Avenue five days after the murder.
The fresh evidence is the result of “painstaking” work by detectives combing through surveillance footage seized from residences and business in Waterdown, Thom said. It has largely been one detective’s job to go through the footage looking for any clue about the actions of the killer, described as a white male, with stocky or athletic build, wearing a black tuque, black jacket, grey pants and black shoes.
Now begins the next stage of time-consuming work — tracking down the 2006 to 2011 black, two-door Honda Civic. Thom said it was captured on surveillance before the murder, with the killer pulling up in the Fusion, getting out and then driving away in the Civic.
It’s not clear if this car was used as the getaway vehicle on the day of the murder.
Police have a partial plate and say they’ll be speaking with car owners that match the description, starting locally. They’ll also be looking at stolen vehicles. These car owners “will be getting a visit from investigators as we work through the list provided by the ministry,” Thom said.
Police also released a photo of a 2017 red Chevrolet Malibu seen near the home before the murder, including the day before when it was parked across the street and drove away when Musitano pulled into his driveway.
Finally, there is an unphotographed grey or blue Infiniti sedan seen “interacting” with the Fusion before the murder.
“Anyone who observed these vehicles in the area between the 27th of April and the 2nd of May 2017, or any other suspicious activity, is asked to contact us,” Thom said.
There has been a lot “intelligence” gathered in this case, he said, but police need witnesses to come forward.
Thom once again lamented the fact that the homicide investigation is hampered by the family’s refusal to speak with police. Instead, police have been referred to family friend and lawyer Dean Paquette.
“It seems odd to me, but traditionally people involved in the mafia don’t normally talk to police,” Thom said.
“Our victim here — who had apparently changed his life around — if he was out of that lifestyle, than I would have expected some co-operation from the family.”
After the murder, some friends came forward to say Musitano had turned his life around and had become religious.
In 1997, Angelo (Ang) Musitano and his older brother, reputed family boss Pasquale (Pat) Musitano, were accused of taking out mob boss Johnny (Pops) Papalia, allegedly ordering hit man Kenny Murdock to commit the murder.
The brothers were charged with first-degree murder, but they struck a deal and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in the shooting death of Niagara crime boss Carmen Barillaro, Papalia’s lieutenant. They served two-thirds of their 10-year sentences and were released from prison in October 2006.
For a long time the traditional organized crime family remained under the radar until the murder.
Then Pat’s St. Clair Boulevard home was sprayed with bullets on June 27, 2017. No one was hurt, but the crime was viewed by mafia-watchers as a warning shot to the older Musitano. Since then, there has been other mafia violence in Ontario that police suspect may be connected.
“There is nothing directly linking (Angelo’s murder) to the shooting at Pat’s home. Is there an inference there? Yeah,” Thom said.
Little is known about Angelo’s lifestyle in the lead-up to his death.
What is known is that he was a co-owner of a chain of now-closed Mexican restaurants, and was also involved in the construction business. He was married with three young boys, who were in the home when he was shot. The family moved to their Waterdown home in 2014 and neighbours did not know his past.
Police continue to look for a specific motive and to identify the killer.
Anyone with information about the vehicles or the murder is asked to contact Det. Jason Cattle at 905-546-4167. To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your tips online at crimestoppershamilton.com
I would have expected some co-operation from the family. DET. SGT. PETER THOM HAMILTON POLICE