Montreal mafia boss assasinated

Nicolo Rizzuto, considered the head of the most important mafia group in Montreal, was killed at his home

11 November 2010, 12:00am

1 min read

Radio-Canada and TVA television said the 86-year-old immigrant from Sicily, was assassinated.

A police spokesman said that a an individual was fatally shot at the residence Wednesday but declined to provide the identity of the victim.

The killing if confirmed would be a major blow to the Sicilian mafia group which had been active for 30 years but whose power appeared to be fading.

Rizzuto arrived in Canada in 1954 and rose to prominence in the organised crime area after the death in 1978 of mob boss Paolo Violi.

Last December, Rizzuto's 42-year-old grandson Nick was killed by gunfire on a Montreal street.