Heartbroken widow of homicide victim pleads for information
Hamilton police do not know why Giorgio Barresi was targeted March 2
The widow of Giorgio Barresi, a 42year-old realtor and father of three killed in the driveway of his Stoney Creek home last month, is pleading for anyone with information to come forward to help solve her husband’s murder.
“I am pleading from one parent to another, one spouse to another, one human being to another to please help us,” Sonia Horta-Barresi said in an emotional video posted by Hamilton police.
“Come forward and help us find the individuals responsible for this tragedy.”
The 42-year-old was killed when a
gunman shot him multiple times in his driveway at 7 Portofino Pl., a quiet upscale neighbourhood near Winona Road, around 10:45 p.m. March 2.
“Our family is forever broken; a piece of our hearts is gone,” Horta-Barresi said.
“I cry for the pain and emptiness that I feel, and I cry especially for my children, who at such a young age will have to go on, living without their dad, knowing that he loved them so much and he will not be around for the beautiful milestones that are to come.”
For the first time on Tuesday, Hamilton police released video of the suspect, wearing what Det. Sgt. Jim Callender of the major crime unit described as a “distinctive coat,” leaving the scene.
It is long, like a trench coat, and appears to have two tones. There is an undetermined logo on the upper left breast of the jacket and its hood has a high peak.
The man had been waiting inside a sedan, parked at the end of Lido Drive, for Barresi to come home, Callender said.
He confronted the 42-yearold victim in his driveway, shooting him, before turning and walking back between the two vehicles parked in the driveway to the waiting vehicle. At least one other suspect waited in the sedan, which turned right and fled south on Lido.
Police know that Barresi was targeted, but do not know why, Callender said.
It’s not clear if the same sedan or any other vehicles were following the victim before he was fatally shot.
It’s also not known if the shooter was hired, he said.
When asked whether Barresi had been threatened or if his behaviour had changed before his death, Callender said he couldn’t comment.
“We’re looking for somebody who knows something, even if you believe it’s insignificant,” he said.
The shooting follows the same pattern of several slayings tied to traditional organized crime — all men were shot just outside or as they were walking into their homes. It began with the May 2, 2017 slaying of mobster Angelo Musitano.
Barresi knew the Musitanos. In 1999, when he was just 22, he was among a group that pleaded guilty to bookmaking in a multimillion-dollar betting ring case where Hamilton Mob boss Pasquale (Pat) Musitano was also initially charged.
According to sources, Barresi was a known associate of the Musitanos at that time. However, it’s unclear whether Barresi maintained any ties in the 20 years since, and he had not faced new charges in recent years.
Callender acknowledged the similar pattern to other homicides and also the “historical ties to organized crime.”
It’s part of the police investigation, but he also noted that doesn’t mean the homicide is
Mob-related.
“People have their theories,” he said, adding that police have not ruled out or in any motive.
But he also said it was important to remember that Barresi was a husband, father and good friend to many people.
“You can’t lose sight of that as well ... nobody deserves this,” he said.
Barresi was a successful realtor. He worked for Royal LePage in Stoney Creek, specializing in rental properties.
This included owning multiple rental properties in and outside Hamilton, Callender said, adding that he was returning from running some errands for some properties he owned the night he was killed.
One of the avenues police are exploring is looking at his business connections, he said.
In a profile on his business website — YourFavouriteRealtor.ca — Barresi was described as being “born into a hardworking, blue-collar Italian family” and raised within walking distance to Gage Park. He went to Cathedral high school and Mohawk College. Barresi posted videos on YouTube called “Giorgio Tours Hamilton” where he charismatically toured his favourite places in Hamilton.
In the video posted by Hamilton police, Barresi’s widow touches on this aspect of her husband’s personality.
“For those of you who were lucky enough to have known my husband George, you knew he had a contagious smile and a charismatic personality that would light up a room,” she said.
“He didn’t deserve what happened to him ... he didn’t deserve to have his life stolen away. Nobody deserves that.” Anyone with information about the Barresi homicide is asked to call Det. Mike Ebert at 905-546-4167. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.