Public slayings of Musitano, Iavarone meant to send a message, says expert

Long before Albert Iavaronearrived home Thursday night, a killer drove up his affluent, Ancasterstreet, parked a silver vehicle and hid in the bushes patiently waiting for his target pull up.

As thereal estate agent, who police say hasconnections to organized crime, got out of his car and started walking to his house,he was gunned down in what's being calleda "targeted attack."

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Iavarone's wife and two children were home when he was shot, and even made the 911 call that brought emergency crews rushing to his home at 32 Sunflower Crescent, but it was too late. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 50-year-old's death marks the second time inless than two years that the silence and sense of security ina quiet, Hamilton-area neighbourhood has been shattered by thefatal shooting of a man police believe had links to organized crime.

In May 2017,Angelo Musitano, a member of Hamilton's notorious Musitano crime family, died after his truck was sprayed with bullets in the driveway of his Waterdownhome.

In that case, people were also at the home when the fatal shots were fired, according topolice who also said Musitano was"stalked"in the days leading up to his death.His killer was also waiting for him to return home.

StephenMetelsky, a criminology professor at Mohawk College, who spent more than two decades as a police officer specializing in organized crime, said Iavaroneis believedto be connected to the Musitanos.

Iavarone did not have a criminal record, according to police, who have not explained his alleged connection to the criminal underworld and have not determined if itwas a factor in his death.

The Mafiahasa level of patience that is unprecedented.- StephenMetelsky, criminology professor

But Metelskythinks the similarities between the shootings of Musitano and Iavarone are more than coincidence.

Traditionally, gangland killings are carried out in one of two ways; someone suddenly disappears and is never heard from again, or they're shot up to send a message, according to the professor.

When it comes to Iavarone's death, Metesklysaid the public shooting was no accident the killing serveda purpose.

"It's very telling when that person is waiting in the bushes to shoot him right near his front door, probably fully knowing he has a wife and two kids," he said.

"It's a huge sign of disrespect and says that this person's life and family are worthless to the underworld."

Hamilton Det. Sgt. Peter Thom is managingthe investigation into both the Musitanoand Iavaroneshootings.

He said it'sa "possibility" the killings are linked and that investigators are examining "all options."

The fight for power

During a press conference Friday, Thom pointed to anumber of "murders, bombings and arsons" in the GTA and the Montreal-area in recent years as examples of ongoing unrest linked to the mob.

"It's ourbelief there is something going in the underworld, maybe a power struggle," he said.

Antonio Nicaso, a Mafia expert who teaches courses onorganized crime at Queen's University, told CBC News it does appear different groups are vying for power in Ontario and Quebec right now but it's unclear whether or not this incident is related.

"There is a power struggle.There is violence related to the power vacuum left by the Rizzutos," he said.

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Vito Rizzuto, the former head of the Montreal Mafia, died in 2013 following the assassinations of his father and son, Nick Jr.

Musitanowas the son ofDominicMusitano, a longtime crime boss in Hamilton who had close ties to theRizzutos.BothMusitanoand his brother, PatMusitano,served nearly 10 years in prison for their roles inthe 1997 shooting death of JohnnyPapaliaarguably Hamilton's most infamous Mafia figureand one of his lieutenants, CarmenBarillaro.

But despite the seeming escalation in mob violence, Metelsky said he doesn't expect to see any sort of knee-jerk reaction to Iavarone's death.

"The Mafiahasa level of patience that is unprecedented," he said."They will wait years to exact revenge if necessary."