Rough translation of the article posted above by antimafia:
WAR OR RETIREMENT? Leonardo Rizzuto at a crossroads, according to a specialist The son of the late Montreal mafia godfather Vito Rizzuto survived a burst of bullets fired at his car in Laval.
After miraculously surviving an attempted murder by firearm on Wednesday, Leonardo Rizzuto, considered by the police as one of the leaders of the Sicilian clan of the Montreal mafia, may have to choose between going to war against those who ordered his murder or lowering his flag by formalizing his retirement.
This is the opinion of the renowned Italian mafia specialist André Cédilot, who worked for 35 years at La Presse and signed two books on the Rizzuto clan.
One thing is certain, according to this expert, Leonardo Rizzuto, son of the late Montreal mafia godfather Vito Rizzuto, will not flee Canada as would other alleged mafias whose heads are put at a price.
Leonardo was born in Montreal and will never leave the city. When his father, Vito, was imprisoned in the United States, several police officers believed that he would never return to Quebec and choose Venezuela or Italy at the end of his sentence in Colorado. But her daughter Maria had told my police sources: her family was from Montreal and she would never leave the city, recalls André Cédilot.
The alleged 53-year-old mafia leader escaped death on Wednesday at about 4:40 p.m., while driving his Mercedes-Benz at the junction of Highways 440 and 13, in Laval.
The shooter opened fire about ten times, but only injured him in the leg.
Leonardo Rizzuto was transported to the Cité-de-la-Santé de Laval, but he left the hospital, escorted by his close guard, in the early evening, according to our information.
It was not a message, we wanted to get rid of it, says the mafia specialist by looking at Radio-Canada's photos, thus corroborating the opinion of our police sources.
As Leonardo is the last living son of Vito Rizzuto, André Cédilot explains that it was the former lawyer Loris Cavaliere who took him under his wing to propel him to the consultation table created between criminal organizations about ten years ago.
Leonardo has neither the charisma nor the experience or contacts his father had when he ruled organized crime in Montreal. It could have been propelled only because of its name. But since his father's friends were all murdered, he no longer has control over the Italian mafia clans in Montreal and other criminal organizations, adds Mr. Cédilot.
The withdrawal of Stefano Sollecito
After the assassination of Rocco Sollecito on May 27, 2016, a few meters from the Laval police headquarters, his son Stefano took over to take care of the affairs of the Rizzuto clan, the expert reports.
I am convinced that Leonardo was imposed on Stefano, who already had business relations with bikers and other criminal organizations, explains André Cédilot.
However, according to our police sources, Stefano Sollecito, now 54, is no longer considered an influential and active member of organized crime because of serious health problems.
According to our information, his condition has deteriorated in recent months.
Stefano was the last one who could prevent us from trying to get rid of Leonardo, who does not have the respect of the mafia Italian families of Montreal. There are about ten of them. Without a protector, he has simply become an accessory in the organized crime ecosystem, adds the former investigative journalist.
André Cédilot does not believe that Leonardo Rizzuto can have the allies and resources necessary to go to war against those who ordered his murder.
Several organized crime actors have the potential to be behind this attack. It can be bikers, like the Calabrian mafia or old enemies of the Rizzuto family, says the specialist.
The confession of the hitman Frédérick Silva, who agreed to collaborate with the Sûreté du Québec, could make several members of organized crime who are still active nervous. Leonardo's involvement in crimes confessed by Silva could encourage people to take action, believes André Cédilot.
Over the past year, police officers specialized in the fight against organized crime have warned several people that their heads were put at a price.
According to our information, the name of Leonardo Rizzuto was part of the number.
