Police Investigate Deadly Shooting With Possible Mob Ties In South Philadelphia
By Elizabeth Hur
One man is dead and a neighborhood is on edge as police investigate a possible mob hit.
Overcome with anger and shock, following the murder of a 50-year-old South Philadelphia man in broad daylight, "I don't want no interview. No news," one man, who identified himself as the nephew of one of the men involved, had to be escorted away from the scene and others who knew the men also wished to be left alone.
"Get away!"
"Get out. Get out."
The sensitivity surrounding the case, according to sources, is due to the alleged association with organized crime, specifically "La Cosa Nostra", by both the victim and the man being questioned in connection with the shooting who sources identified as 41-year-old Anthony Nicodemo.
Police tell us it was around 3pm Wednesday, officers responding to a shooting in the 2800 block of Iseminger Street found the victim on the ground, next to his pick-up truck, shot multiple times in the back. He later died at the hospital.
Information from an alert eyewitness, according to sources, later led police to Nicodemo's home on South 17th Street. That information included the make, model and tag of a black Honda pilot reportedly seen leaving the scene of the shooting. The car owner, Nicodemo, was taken to Homicide for questioning. His home was searched by the police, FBI and K-9 units for evidence Wednesday night.
"It's very shocking to say the least. Things like this don't happen around here."
Most neighbors were too scared to comment. The one person willing to talk asked that we don't use his name.
"We usually mind our business and go about our business and as far as seeing anything. I seen nothing."
Late Wednesday, sources identified the victim as 50-year-old Gino DiPietro.
At last check, police said no charges had been filed in this case and their investigation is continuing.
