The family of Nick Rizzuto leaves the church following his funeral in Montreal
The family of Nick Rizzuto leaves the church following his funeral in Montreal, January 2, 2010. Rizzuto, eldest son of Vito Rizzuto, the reputed head of the Montreal Mafia according to media reports, on Monday was gunned down in Montreal's Notre-dame-de-Grace neighborhood. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

A Canadian Mafioso was assassinated in a Montreal restaurant last Monday, Dec 1. He managed to survive a previous assassination attempt in 2013.

Tonino Callocchia was shot multiple times at Bistro XO Plus on Henri-Bourassa Blvd. E. near the corner of LJ-Forget Ave.by a couple of masked men at around 1 pm. He was declared dead at the scene while the assassins ran away. The attack seemed to be a well-planned one as the earlier assassination attempt against Callocchia had failed. The 2013 attack was also carried out at a Montreal restaurant. Toronto Sun reported that several associated of Callocchia had been assassinated in recent times. One of them was Joe Di Maulo whose relation with the Rizzuto crime family was believed to have soured. Di Maulo was gunned down in northern Montreal in 2012. The father and son of boss Vito Rizzuto and several of his top associates were shot dead in recent years as well. The don died on natural causes during the Christmas holidays in 2013.

National Post reported that 53-year-old Callocchia was described in past parole decisions as "an active member of the Italian Mafia." He served a 21-year aggregate sentence due to a number of offences related to money laundering and drug trafficking. He was also charged for extortion and uttering threats to one woman. A police source called Callocchia as a "big player" in the Mafia. According to Montreal police spokesperson Raphael Bergeron, several bullets were fired at the victim. No description of possible suspects has been released by Montreal police while it has also not been confirmed if there was one shooter or more.

Callocchia was reported to be the owner of real estate management company 9166-3807 Quebec Inc. He also owned another company called Construction T.D.P. He was reported to be close to "loan shark" Roger Valiquette who was killed in 2013. Valiquette's homicide still remains unsolved. Callocchia was first arrested in 1985. Even though he was acquitted in the case, he was later arrested in 1990 after having been charged with conspiracy and possession of cocaine. He served eight years after pleading guilty.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au