Rocco Zito

Zito was born into a 'Ndrangheta crime family in Fiumara, Calabria, on 19 August 1928, one of six sons to Domenico and Angela. His father and uncle, Giuseppe, were both 'Ndrangheta members. A murder charge against him in Italy was dropped in 1952 before he entered Canada legally through Montreal three years later, then relocating to Toronto as its connection to the Montreal mafia-bootlegging scheme. ==Activities and convicted manslaughter==

Police long believed he earned that money through gambling, loan sharking, drugs, fraud, counterfeiting and other criminal ventures. He also had an early bootlegging conviction. He received his Canadian citizenship in 1961 and was believed to be a founding member of the Camera di Controllo since 1962. Zito initially vanished after the shooting, but surrendered four days later to Peel homicide detectives. He limped in from a gunshot wound to the leg, telling police that "I, Rocco Zito, was shot on Monday, Jan. 13th, by persons unknown." Police suspected the wound was self-inflicted to instill legal doubt in the initial second-degree murder charge in Sciarrino's death, and was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. In 1987, Zito was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for possessing stolen goods and proceeds of crime. ==Death==

Zito was shot to death in his North York home on 29 January 2016, by his son-in-law Domenico Scopelliti in a domestic dispute at the age of 87. Scopelliti and his family shared the home with Zito. After the shooting, Scopelliti fled, but turned himself in hours later to police, and was charged with first-degree murder. Police found at least six guns — including a pistol and a rifle — and ammunition, stashed in closets, linen drawers and cabinets in his home. Police also found a total of $23,390 in Canadian currency, €18,570 and $251 in American currency, stashed in a briefcase, wallets, an envelope and a drawer in his home. On 18 May 2018, Scopelliti stated in court that he killed Zito after he had a gun point at him, fearing for his life. However, on 20 June 2018, another one of Zito's daughters, Angela Buda testified she was standing close to her father and that he did not have a gun when he was shot. Scopelliti was charged with manslaughter after found not guilty of first and second degree murder. ==Style and philosophy==

Zito officially listed his occupation as a ceramic tile salesman as a business front. He lived by the philosophy of old-school modesty, disliking the flash of the modern Mafia, with its extravagant displays of wealth to show power; he believed true respect, came from "honour." He often dismissed younger mobsters who resided in Woodbridge, north of Toronto, as "Hollywood". Zito once stated, "In my day, we didn't have the big houses, drive the big cars and the suits and all the flash... But all the guys in Woodbridge have the big houses and drive the big, black SUVs and put on airs." ==References==