Angelo Pizzi, 62, was shot dead in a hail of gunfire at the Spaghetteria n.1 restaurant in Bisceglie, southern Italy, on 30 April. Several British tourists were dining at the restaurant at the time of the suspected mafia ambush
A peaceful evening meal for a group of British holidaymakers descended into terror when masked gunmen burst into the restaurant and shot an “innocent” waiter.
Angelo Pizzi, lovingly known as Lino, was gunned down in a barrage of bullets while going about his work. The 62-year-old victim, a head waiter with a clean record, perished at the scene.
Detectives believe his death was a tragic case of mistaken identity. The shooting occurred at the Spaghetteria n.1 restaurant in Bisceglie in southern Italy last night (April 30). According to reports, two masked gunmen stormed into the eatery during the evening service and unleashed gunfire, letting off around 15 shots in a swift assault that sent diners into panic.
Detectives suspect the real target was the restaurant proprietor, a man with past convictions who was there at the time.
Pizzi, described by locals as a grafting and upstanding family man, simply got caught in the crossfire, according to authorities.
Patrons, including a party of British tourists, watched the terrifying attack play out before their eyes. Forensic experts combed the scene well into the night, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Interior CCTV footage is being examined as part of the evidence collection. Officials are treating the slaying as a calculated mafia-style hit.
The Direzione Distrettuale Antimafia (DDA), a judicial body specialised in investigating mafia-style organised crime, is leading the investigation. The assailants made a swift exit following the shooting and no arrests have been made as yet.
Bisceglie’s Mayor, Angelantonio Angarano, issued a call for unity and justice in the wake of the tragedy, asserting that the community must stand “with heads held high and without fear”.
Statements have been taken from witnesses at the scene, although it remains uncertain how many customers were present at the time.
Local press reported that the victim had a clean slate and no ties to criminal networks, bolstering the theory of mistaken identity.
Prosecutors haven’t dismissed a potential link to another recent killing in Bisceglie. Filippo Scavo, 42, who was associated with the Strisciuglio clan, was gunned down at the Divine Club on April 19.
As the investigation continues, officials are probing possible connections between the two violent incidents which occurred within a fortnight of each other.
No arrests have been made, and Italian authorities are currently scrutinising CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses, including several shaken British nationals who were dining in the vicinity.
The restaurant is currently closed while investigations are ongoing.