by B. » Sun Oct 07, 2018 10:36 pm
chin_gigante wrote: ↑Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:10 am
Angelo Bruno (Snyder Avenue, 21st March 1980):
Based on the available literature it appears either Alfred Salerno or Antonio Caponigro himself was the shooter (it can be reasonably assumed therefore, that the one who wasn't acted as the killer's getaway driver).
Frank Sindone was involved in the conspiracy. Some sources say John Simone was as well and that was the reason why he was killed; others state he was simply executed for posing a threat to the new leadership of Philip Testa/ Nicodemo Scarfo. John Stanfa was possibly in on the hit. I remember reading that after he was hospitalized due to his injuries he was visited by I think Sindone and perhaps Caponigro, I can't remember fully. Then again that meeting, if it took place, could have been just to tell him that the killers had no intentions of going after him too. He could've gone on the lam because he was involved or he could have gone on the lam because he knew how it would be perceived with him being Bruno's driver, regardless of his actual involvement. There seems to be enough room for doubt there that it's hard to say definitively one way or the other and we'll probably never know for sure.
In his book, Leonetti recalls Ralph Napoli confessing that he had sourced the shotgun for Caponigro (I can't remember if he mentioned anyone else) but was basically told not to worry about it. Natale I think (and this is the guy who claimed to be made at a private ceremony by Carlo Gambino and Angelo Bruno, so take his information with a lifetime supply of salt) that Felix Bocchino and Dominic DeVito were in on the murder as well.
Leonetti had previously given info after he flipped that it was Felix Bocchino who supplied the shotgun. Bocchino was a partner of Caponigro's in some rackets, so there was at least a relationship there. George Fresolone was of the opinion that Caponigro did the shooting himself, but he didn't have any basis for it. I find it unlikely given Caponigro's status, age, and how recognizable he would have been, plus he allegedly believed he had Commission approval so he wouldn't have needed to put himself at risk like that. A witness claimed to have seen Riccobene associate Victor DeLuca in the neighborhood prior to the shooting. Given DeLuca's reputation for violence, including the future Monte hit and his willingness to go to war against a future boss (Scarfo), it seems possible to me he was the shooter. It wouldn't necessarily be an indication that Riccobene was involved, either, as Long John Martorano was originally an associate of the Riccobene group and his behavior surrounding the Bruno murder is highly suspicious, so he could have brought DeLuca into the conspiracy.
From what Caramandi said, it sounds like Caponigro hinted about the murder before it happened and told Caramandi that he would get straightened out afterward. Caramandi was an associate on record with DeVito, so seems possible DeVito had an idea about what was going to happen. Who knows, maybe DeVito's murder even happened in part because of this and not just his old beef with Merlino as said by Caramandi (who wasn't involved in the DeVito murder conspiracy and, according to Caramandi himself, was on the verge of being killed with DeVito).
[quote=chin_gigante post_id=88879 time=1536671405 user_id=5708]
Angelo Bruno (Snyder Avenue, 21st March 1980):
Based on the available literature it appears either Alfred Salerno or Antonio Caponigro himself was the shooter (it can be reasonably assumed therefore, that the one who wasn't acted as the killer's getaway driver).
Frank Sindone was involved in the conspiracy. Some sources say John Simone was as well and that was the reason why he was killed; others state he was simply executed for posing a threat to the new leadership of Philip Testa/ Nicodemo Scarfo. John Stanfa was possibly in on the hit. I remember reading that after he was hospitalized due to his injuries he was visited by I think Sindone and perhaps Caponigro, I can't remember fully. Then again that meeting, if it took place, could have been just to tell him that the killers had no intentions of going after him too. He could've gone on the lam because he was involved or he could have gone on the lam because he knew how it would be perceived with him being Bruno's driver, regardless of his actual involvement. There seems to be enough room for doubt there that it's hard to say definitively one way or the other and we'll probably never know for sure.
In his book, Leonetti recalls Ralph Napoli confessing that he had sourced the shotgun for Caponigro (I can't remember if he mentioned anyone else) but was basically told not to worry about it. Natale I think (and this is the guy who claimed to be made at a private ceremony by Carlo Gambino and Angelo Bruno, so take his information with a lifetime supply of salt) that Felix Bocchino and Dominic DeVito were in on the murder as well.
[/quote]
Leonetti had previously given info after he flipped that it was Felix Bocchino who supplied the shotgun. Bocchino was a partner of Caponigro's in some rackets, so there was at least a relationship there. George Fresolone was of the opinion that Caponigro did the shooting himself, but he didn't have any basis for it. I find it unlikely given Caponigro's status, age, and how recognizable he would have been, plus he allegedly believed he had Commission approval so he wouldn't have needed to put himself at risk like that. A witness claimed to have seen Riccobene associate Victor DeLuca in the neighborhood prior to the shooting. Given DeLuca's reputation for violence, including the future Monte hit and his willingness to go to war against a future boss (Scarfo), it seems possible to me he was the shooter. It wouldn't necessarily be an indication that Riccobene was involved, either, as Long John Martorano was originally an associate of the Riccobene group and his behavior surrounding the Bruno murder is highly suspicious, so he could have brought DeLuca into the conspiracy.
From what Caramandi said, it sounds like Caponigro hinted about the murder before it happened and told Caramandi that he would get straightened out afterward. Caramandi was an associate on record with DeVito, so seems possible DeVito had an idea about what was going to happen. Who knows, maybe DeVito's murder even happened in part because of this and not just his old beef with Merlino as said by Caramandi (who wasn't involved in the DeVito murder conspiracy and, according to Caramandi himself, was on the verge of being killed with DeVito).