Man Charged With Mob Boss Murder Flashes Pro-Trump Slogans In Court

[demmiblue]

9. NYT: Anthony Comello Says He Shot Gambino Leader Because He Feared for His Life

The 24-year-old man charged with killing a senior leader of the Gambino crime family in Staten Island told detectives that he was high on marijuana and shot the crime figure because he feared for his life, according to two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the matter.

But the man, Anthony Comello, gave several conflicting accounts about what happened the night the reputed mobster, Francesco Cali, was fatally shot. Though Mr. Comello has acknowledged being at the scene, investigators have been unable to corroborate many of his claims or to establish a motive for the shooting, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss an open investigation.

At an initial court appearance on Monday afternoon in Ocean County, N.J., Mr. Comello held up a palm on which he had scribbled “United We Stand,” and “M.A.G.A. forever,” as well as a circle and “U.S.A.”

During the 15-minute hearing, Mr. Comello smiled several times and seemed calm as he signed papers waiving his right to an extradition hearing “without reference to guilt or innocence.” Ocean County prosecutors said he would be transferred to New York within 10 days.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/18/nyregion/anthony-comello-frank-cali.html