AMATEUR HOUR IN ALLEGED BOTCHED MOB HIT IN BRONX.

Sylvester Zottola and Vinnie Basciano

You may have heard about this.  I believe it took place Wednesday morning at around 6:30 a.m. in the Bronx, New York.  Alleged Bonanno associate Salvatore Zotolla was shot numerous times outside of his home while walking to his minivan parked outside of his house.

In the surveillance video which was released this morning shows a red Nissan pull up alongside Sal and a gunmen opens up.  Zottola rolls around to the back of the minivan to block himself from the incoming bullets and the gun men runs around to the right side of the van, and Zottola begins to roll to his left and the gunmen unloads more rounds before running back to the car and taking off.

Zottola was shot three times.  Once in the hand, once in the chest, and one shot grazed off his head.  He's lucky to be alive.  According to law enforcement Zottola has completely refused to cooperate with investigators.  He has refused to give the FBI any statements, refused to speak at all about the incident and has also refused to let any law enforcement look at the additional camera footage of the event.  The footage released this morning is actually from a nearby Yacht club.

It's widely believed via law enforcement that Zottola does in fact know who the gunmen is. Police are looking into if an earlier attempted hit this month on Sal's father Sylvester Zottola, 71, is in connection.  On June 12, Sylvester was leaving his home, a gunmen approached him with gun in hand and Zottola opened fire.  He was arrested and charged with three felony counts and a misdemeanor. He was charged with having a loaded firearm, criminal possession of a firearm and a secondary having a loaded firearm charge. According to law enforcement Sylvester is also affiliated with  the Bonanno crime family.This is the second time in a few years someone attempted to kill Sylvester Zotolla.  Back in December of 2017, he was stabbed in his neck in his own home. According to reports Zotolla walked into his home to find intruders.

According to law enforcement both Zotolla's are associated with the Bonanno crime family through Vinnie Basciano, who allegedly at one time was the acting boss of the Bonanno crime family. According to law enforcement Basciano had business with Sylvester Zotolla via joker poker machines, however in 2006 Basciano would be charged with racketeering conspiracy in connection with the machines.  He would also be charged with assaulting Frank Poco, who allegedly was fucking with Sylvester Zottola's business. For the record, Salvatore does not have a criminal record whatsoever and there are also no public photos of him.

It remains to be if the three incidents are related, but from the street perspective, I don't believe this to be the case.  It's either one of two different scenarios, which I'm not going to discuss in depth publicly because it would just be an assertion on my behalf, but let's just say this.  It was definitely amateur hour on the streets the other day.

 Just looking at the video myself, it's apparent the shooter has never likely shot a gun in his life, or at least never attempted to shoot anyone before.  It the glory days, guys who went on hits, were patient, and didn't do thuggish type of drive-bys.    You certainly make sure you hit someone on the first shot, to avoid precious time.  If you had to get out of the car, you get the job done.  I am not poking fun of this event, or anything else.  I'm simply saying the video lends credence to the idea that I don't think this was ordered by anyone.  This looks more like a beef over something that culminated over something stupid.  Either that or the mob is employing young guys who wanna make a name for themselves.   We haven't seen a hit or attempted hit like this since 2013 in New York City.  For the life of me, I can guarantee one thing however.  Whomever the shooter is, he had better pack up and leave for his own safety because if this was ordered you can bet botching it sealed his own fate.  I also scoff at the idea that they didn't seem to notice security cameras.  It also lends itself to not being planned and looks more of a gut check, or a not designed shooting. It had all the looks of a mob hit, designed by amateurs.   Thankfully Sal is alive and on the mend.  You can be sure however, that with nobody talking, that it will likely end another way, that's only if the cops didn't get the plates.  Don't these kids watch the first 48?  Sheesh.