Gino DiPietro, a 50-year-old Italian-American male, was tragically gunned down on December 12, 2012, outside his home on Iseminger Street near Johnston in South Philadelphia. DiPietro, who had a history of minor legal troubles but had turned his life around, was shot five times as he exited his car. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Hahnemann University Hospital.
The investigation into DiPietro's murder revealed connections to organized crime.
Anthony Nicodemo, a reputed mob soldier and close confidant of Mob Boss Joey Merlino, was arrested shortly after the murder. Nicodemo's car was seen fleeing the crime scene, and a gun was found inside the vehicle. Despite Nicodemo's arrest and subsequent conviction for driving the getaway car, the actual shooter has never been charged. The FBI has continued to investigate the case, offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.
The case remains a significant one in Philadelphia's mob history, with Nicodemo serving a 25-50 year sentence in state prison. The investigation has also implicated Nicodemo in other mob-related killings, though no additional arrests have been made in connection with DiPietro's murder.
DiPietro's death was a tragic end to a life that had been on a positive trajectory, leaving behind a fiancée, Alisa Lord, and his two sons, Gino and Julian. The community continues to remember him fondly, and the search for justice in his case remains ongoing.
