Restauranteur murdered on his doorstep shot dead holding loaf and over £11,000 in a plastic bag
Famed sauce at co-owned L&B Spumoni Gardens, in Brooklyn, New York, wae previously subject of Mafia extortion plot
A MAN whose pizza sauce was the subject of a Mafia extortion plot has been found shot dead holding $15,000 and a loaf of bread.
Louis Barbati, the co-owner of the famous pizzeria Brooklyn L&B Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn, New York, was murdered on Thursday.
He was fatally shot outside his home, and, according to the , screamed out for his wife.
He died holding a loaf of bread and a plastic bag filled with $15,000 in cash in it.
She thought she had heard firecrackers going off but on hearing her dying husband’s cried rushed outside to find him.
Barbati had been shot seven times in the back according to the New York Post, and New York Police said he died on the way to hospital in an ambulance.
His wife and two sons were inside the family home when it happened.
A man hunt is now on to find out who killed him – a suspect – who was described as a man in his 30’s was seen fleeing the scene.
The restaurant is one of Brooklyn’s most celebrated restaurants – it is known for its Sicilian style slices and Italian ice cream.
It also serves a famous homemade Spumoni – which is a three layered ice cream with nuts and fruit.
The business was founded in the 1930’s by Barbati’s grandfather.
However it is best known for its sauce which is served on it’s Sicilian pizza slices.
In 2012 it was referenced in a federal extortion case which involved Francis Guerra, an alleged member of a Colombo crime family.
According to People, he is related through marriage to an L&B owner, which spoke to Guerra’s lawyer.
He was accused of threatening an alleged associate of the alleged Bonanno crime family.
It was claimed it was in retaliation for the associate allegedly stealing L&B’s recipe.
Mari said: "It was nonsense from the very beginning. No one at L&B pizza was complaining to anyone about anything.”
A neighbour of the family, who called himself Peter told the New York Post: “I’m shocked. Lou was a good guy. His family is broken up. Everyone knew him here. He was well-liked.”