Possibly caught in a trap and shot in broad daylight in front of witnesses, his time was limited: we will know later if the assassination of Francesco Del Balso will calm tensions or cause other turmoil in the organized crime world.
The 53-year-old man, a former high-ranking mafia now more associated with the Hells Angels, was suspected by the police of having ordered the attempted murder against Leonardo Rizzuto which occurred in mid-March in Laval. He had since been in the crosshairs of the Sicilian clan, still considered by the police, still for the moment at least, as the strongest of the Montreal mafia.
The deceased mafioso was alone at the time of the events. The shooter(s) were reportedly several meters away from him when he was shot near the Monster Gym.
A hypothesis that will surely be examined by the police: a trap was set for him by summoning him to this place.
The training center would be frequented by members of a school club of the Hells Angels, the Rolling Aces, according to police and criminal sources.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
A Monster Gym employee cleans up the scene the day after the murder.
This murder is not a surprise in the eyes of the authorities and the underworld. Del Balso had been isolated for a few weeks, and a multi-thousand dollar contract was reportedly put on his head.
He wore a bulletproof vest regularly and even had barbed wire and bulletproof film installed in the windows of his residence.
According to sources, he may have been sacrificed by the Hells Angels to buy peace with the Sicilian clan of the Montreal Mafia.
According to our sources, the assassination on Monday afternoon could be a response to the attempted murder committed against Leonardo Rizzuto, youngest son of Vito Rizzuto, on March 15 in Laval. Del Balso was suspected by the authorities of having ordered this attack. He had been arrested at the airport with a one-way ticket to Italy. He was then released after confiscating his passport.
It must be said that Del Balso had already been the target of attempted murder in the past. In January, he was reportedly targeted in Laval, in the Vimont district. There would have been a mistake about the person, our sources explained. A 77-year-old man had then received a projectile from a firearm.
On November 7, Del Balso narrowly escaped death. He had been hit by several gunshots. At least three projectiles had shattered the window of his vehicle.
In the wake of a series of arson attacks linked to organized crime, two vehicles were burned in the entrance of a residence located near that of Francesco Del Balso last May.