On November 6, 1995, a violent outburst shattered the lunchtime calm at the 99 Restaurant in the Charlestown section of Boston, leaving 53-year-old Anthony "Sonny" Pelosi Jr. and three other men dead. The brutal event was the culmination of a bitter, long-standing feud between the Clemente and Luisi families. The dispute, reportedly rooted in the drug trade, had simmered for about a year, creating an atmosphere of fear and animosity between the two factions.
The deadly encounter began when Damian Clemente and a friend, Vincent Perez, found themselves at the restaurant at the same time as a group that included Robert Luisi, his son Roman Luisi, his nephew Anthony Sarro, and Anthony "Sonny" Pelosi Jr. Feeling threatened, Damian placed a terrified call to his father, Anthony P. Clemente. The elder Clemente, determined to extract his son from the tense situation, armed himself and headed to the restaurant.
Upon his arrival, Anthony Clemente approached the booth where Pelosi and the others were seated. After a brief and heated exchange, the scene descended into chaos. Anthony Clemente drew his weapon and opened fire. Witnesses reported that after Roman Luisi made a threatening gesture, Clemente shot him. When Pelosi yelled out and Robert Luisi stood up, they were both shot. The gunfire continued, with Anthony Sarro also being fatally wounded. A fifth man, Richard Sarro, was also shot but survived the attack.
In the immediate aftermath, off-duty police officers who were dining in the restaurant pursued and arrested Damian Clemente and Vincent Perez outside. Damian was found to be in possession of a. 45 caliber pistol. Anthony Clemente managed to flee the scene, discarding his weapon and clothing in a nearby dumpster before being arrested the following morning at his son's arraignment. Both Anthony and Damian Clemente were charged with four counts of murder. The subsequent trial centered on their claim of self-defense, with the defense arguing they had been living in fear of the Luisi family. Despite this, a jury found both father and son guilty. Anthony Clemente was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder, while Damian Clemente was convicted of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. Both were sentenced to mandatory life in prison.
