http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/justic...tue-a-laval.php

translation:

The mafioso Vincenzo Spagnolo, former right-hand man and friend of the deceased godfather Vito Rizzuto, was killed Saturday night in Laval.
For now, we ignore the circumstances of the crime. It seems that Vincenzo Spagnolo, who had just celebrated his 65th birthday, was at home on the Antoine-Forestier Street in the Vimont district, when he was hit by gunfire around 17:30. He was taken to hospital where his death was confirmed. Since this is a murder linked to organized crime, the Laval police handed the case to their colleagues in the Crimes against the person of the Sûreté du Québec.
Vincenzo Spagnolo was the best friend and confidant of Vito Rizzuto, the former godfather of the Montreal Mafia died naturally in December 2013. Some sources even claim that the two men were cousins. Vincenzo Spagnolo was one of those who had received the godfather in Toronto in October 2012, when Vito Rizzuto returned to Canada after spending six years in US jails for his involvement in the murders of three captains of the Bonanno clan committed New York in 1981.
While he was in prison in Quebec, waiting to be extradited to the United States, Vito Rizzuto called Vincenzo Spagnolo almost as much as his wife, reveals the book Mafia Inc. journalists André Noël and André Cédilot.
After the arrest of Vito Rizzuto for a case of 32 tons of hashish seized off Sept-Îles in 1988, Vincenzo Spagnolo was willing to pay a million dollars for the deposit of his friend, also recall Cédilot and Andre Noel.
Spagnolo had owned a reception hall named buffet Roma . According to our information, he was also a silent owner of Romcafé Laval, a place where Vito Rizzuto had made his headquarters during his bloody return to power in fall 2012 and winter 2013. Spagnolo also controlled, at least until recently, Bellerose coffee, another head quarter for the Sicilian clan of Laval which targeted by a Molotov cocktail in the last few weeks.
In January 2003, Vincenzo Spagnolo was among seven companions-among them Giuseppe Di Maulo and Francesco Arcadi- who made a golf trip with Vito Rizzuto in the Dominican Republic, while they were closely monitored by the investigators of police operation “Colosse”, anti-mafia investigation.
In October 2014, several individuals linked to Sicilian Clan gathered at Buonanotte restaurant to celebrate the birthday of Vincenzo Spagnolo when police squad “Eclipse” invited themselves at the party.
Although he was very present in the entourage of the former godfather, Vincenzo Spagnolo was not recognized as being very involved in the criminal operations of the clan. Sources noted that he was to Vito Rizzuto what Gaetan Gosselin was for Raynald Desjardins, and Vincenzo Scuderi, for the deceased clan chief Giuseppe De Vito. Scuderi and Gosselin, men of confidence and friend of De Vito and Desjardins, two rivals of the Sicilians, were killed during the return to power of Vito Rizzuto winter 2013. "The death of Spagnolo is the same message. Some see it that way. Your reign is over (Sicilians), let go, "said one observer in the know to La Presse .
Spagnolo death could have a moral impact on the remaining members of the Rizzuto clan. Sources had told La Presse that Raynald Desjardins was particularly moved by the death of his friend Gaetan Gosselin.
One thing is certain, the systematic extermination of the Sicilian clan seems to continue, even after the assassinations of Vito Rizzuto last lieutenant , Rocco Sollecito, in May, and Lorenzo Giordano in March. Recalling events a few weeks ago, Molotov cocktails were thrown at the Bellerose coffee and also at Empire bar, another stronghold of the Rizzuto on Jean-Talon Street in Montreal.
Officially, however, the police still considers Stefano Sollecito, the son of Rocco Sollecito, as the head of the Montreal Mafia, and that the latter is still predominantly Sicilian, but things are slowly changing.
The son of Vincenzo Spagnolo, Nicola, had served on the mafia management table before it broke out following the death of Rocco Sollecito.
To join Daniel Renaud confidentially, call (514) 285-7000, extension 4918, or write to the postal address of La Presse.