https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/daniel-tomassetti-musitano-murder-suspect-1.6778124
Daniel Tomassetti is only suspect left in shootings of mobster Angelo Musitano, Toronto woman Mila Barberi


Bobby Hristova · CBC News · Posted: Mar 14, 2023 12:47 PM EDT | Last Updated: March 14
A man standing

Daniel Tomassetti is wanted on two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, according to Interpol. (Interpol)
After six years, police are still looking for the final suspect in a pair of Hamilton mob murders — and while police believe the 32-year-old Hamilton man is still alive, the country where he may be is still unclear.

Daniel Tomassetti has been wanted in connection with the shooting death of notorious mobster Angelo Musitano and Mila Barberi, an innocent bystander killed in a botched mob hit.

Tuesday marked six years since Barberi's death.


"A young 28-year-old woman was murdered for no reason, essentially in the wrong place at the wrong time," Const. Laura Nicolle, spokesperson for York Regional Police, told CBC Hamilton on Tuesday.

"It's an awful tragedy."

Murders seemingly part of underworld power struggle

Barberi, from Toronto, was shot while sitting in an SUV parked outside a business in Vaughan, Ont., in March 2017.

She was picking up her boyfriend, 40-year-old Saverio Serrano, who police say had connections to organized crime and may have been the intended target.

Two months later, Musitano's pickup truck was peppered with bullets after he pulled into his Waterdown driveway in May 2017.

In 2018, Eric Girt, police chief in Hamilton at the time, described it as "a well-planned murder involving a sophisticated and lengthy surveillance of the victim."

A woman smiling.
Mila Barberi was shot while sitting in an SUV parked outside a business in Vaughan, Ont., in March 2017. (Facebook)
Police said the shootings were connected and part of mob-related violence.

Experts previously said the shootings were likely part of an underworld power struggle and bad blood that stretches back to the 1970s.

Back then, the Musitano family was linked to convictions for bombings and extortion, as well as the hit on mobster Domenic Racco in the 1980s.

Angelo and his older brother Pat were charged with first-degree murder in 1997 for the contract killing of local Mob boss Johnny (Pops) Papalia and one of his lieutenants, Carmen Barillaro.

Two men walking.
Pat Musitano and Angelo Musitano, left to right, were both shot dead. (The Hamilton Spectator)
The brothers reached a deal and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Barillaro. In turn, the charges against them in connection with Papalia's death were dropped.

Both men were sentenced to 10 years in prison and were released in 2007.

Mafia experts say the Musitanos had a target on their back from that time forward.

These are the victims of the GTA underworld power struggle
Pat was shot weeks after Angelo was killed, but survived.

In 2020, he was shot again in broad daylight and died, effectively wiping out the Musitano family.

Police haven't named any suspects in Pat's death.

Tomassetti is only living suspect left

Two other people were wanted for the deaths of Barberi and Angelo.

Jabril Abdalla ended up being convicted for the lesser charge of participating in a criminal organization because he didn't plan or carry out the murders.

Michael Cudmore, meanwhile, fled to Mexico in May 2017. Hamilton police said he was killed in 2020.

Hamilton man accused in mob murders pleads guilty to lesser charge, gets time served of 46 months
Suspect in death of Hamilton mobster Angelo Musitano was murdered, investigators say
Eric Girt, Hamilton's chief of police in 2018, previously said Tomassetti left Canada for Cancun, Mexico, in January that year.

At the time, Girt said there was no sign of Tomassetti returning to Canada or leaving Mexico, adding that his family "showed no signs for his well being" and people Tomassetti knew were likely helping him keep a low profile.

Police still optimistic despite pair of cold cases

Tomassetti faces a Canada-wide warrant and has a file with Interpol.

He is wanted for two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, according to Interpol.

Interpol states he is roughly 5-foot-4 and weighs 145 pounds.

A $50,000 reward for any information leading to Tomassetti's arrest or conviction is still up for grabs.

Nicolle, from York police, wouldn't say if there's been any update in the case or where he might be.

A wanted poster.
Police are offering $50,000 to anyone with information that leads to the arrest or conviction of Tomassetti. (Hamilton Police Service)
Hamilton police Det.-Sgt. Steve Bereziuk previously said any unsolved case from 2018 or earlier is considered a cold case — but Nicolle said investigators are still optimistic about the case.

"We don't at any point stop looking," Nicolle said, adding police encourage Tomassetti to get a lawyer and turn himself in.

She also said detectives hope someone who might know something will come forward with information.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bobby Hristova
Reporter
Bobby Hristova is a journalist with CBC Hamilton. He reports on all issues, but has a knack for stories that hold people accountable, stories that focus on social issues and investigative journalism. He previously worked for the National Post and CityNews in Toronto. You can contact him at bobby.hristova@cbc.ca.
Follow @bobbyhristova on Twitter
With files from Adam Carter and Daniel Taekema

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