3 more men face murder in 2012 Little Italy shooting
Posted February 20, 2013 7:08 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto police have named three other men, including an alleged drug kingpin, facing first-degree murder charges in last June’s Little Italy shooting.
Nicola Nero, 36, of Niagara Falls, was arrested and charged Wednesday in Toronto with first-degree murder. He was previously charged in the fall by Niagara regional police during a raid of a cocaine ring that they allege he ran from a prison in Kingston.
Toronto man Martino Caputo, 39, was arrested in Germany on Saturday and is being held pending an extradition order. He’s also wanted on drug-related offences that stems from that same drug bust.
A third man, Rabih Alkhalil, 25, of no fixed address, is also wanted for murder. Alkhalil, known to frequent Ottawa and Montreal and may have contacts in Vancouver, was also wanted on drug and organized crime-related offences by Niagara police and Quebec provincial police.
On June 18, 2012, John Raposo, 35, was killed by gunfire that broke out on the patio of the Sicilian Sidewalk Café at College Street and Montrose Avenue. Police maintain he was targeted. On Wednesday, police wouldn’t comment on the case now before the courts but Staff Insp. Greg McLane said, “it’s alleged the murder plot involves an aspect of organized crime.”
Witnesses at the time said the shooter was dressed as a construction worker, with a white filter mask over his face and a hard hat.
Dean Wiwchar was charged with first-degree murder days after the shooting. Police allege he opened fire on the busy café patio where people were watching a soccer match between Italy and Ireland during the Euro Cup.
Wiwchar is from Stouffville but had served time in a British Columbia prison for a crime that occurred in York Region about six years ago, according to his then lawyer. He’s facing numerous weapons charges in B.C.
The investigation into Raposo’s death is ongoing, McLane said.
