A presumed member of the Montreal mafia was shot and killed in Laval on Saturday night.
Vincenzo Spagnolo, 65, was said to be an associate of Vito Rizzuto, the former head of a powerful crime family who died in 2013.
Andre Cedilot, author of a book on the Montreal mafia, said Spagnolo was a longtime loyallist to the Sicilian branch of the mob.
"His role in the Rizzuto clan was like a mailbox," said Cedilot. "Vincenzo Spagnolo was like, if there was a message to Vito Rizzuto, they pass through Vincenzo Spagnolo. And if Vito had a message to somebody else, he passed through Vincenzo Spagnolo."
Cedilot added that Spagnolo, who owned several businesses, remained active after Rizzuto's death from lung cancer.
"This guy, he had knowledge, he knew a lot of things about the organization inside the Rizzuto clan and then he was playing a bigger role since a couple of years (ago)," he said.
While Laval police responded to a call at Antoine Forestier and Arthur Mignault St. at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, the investigation has been turned over to the Sureté du Quebec due to Spagnolo’s ties to organized crime.
Police said the victim had been shot once in his home. An autopsy is scheduled for early next week.
Officials said they have no suspects yet.
Spagnolo's shooting follows the killing of Rocco Sollecito in Laval in May. Sollecito was also considered a close associate of Rizzuto's. Cedilot said the bloodshed is an indicator there is a new branch of the mafia moving into Montreal.
"It's the Calabrese clan who is fighting hard and with the influence of the 'Ndrangheta from Ontario," he said. "That's the portrait now and you can put in the Hells Angels (too)."
