On a grim autumn evening in Boston, the 6th of November, 1995, turned fatal for Robert Luisi Sr., a 55-year-old male. What began as a tense encounter in the 99 Restaurant in Charlestown escalated into a burst of violence that left four men dead and another wounded. Luisi Sr., along with his son Roman, his nephew Antonio "Anthony" Sarro, and a family friend Anthony "Sonny" Pelosi Jr., were shot and killed. A fifth man, Richard Sarro, was also shot but survived the brutal attack.
The deadly confrontation was the culmination of a festering dispute between the Luisi family and the Clemente family.
The roots of the conflict traced back to prior violent altercations. Damian Clemente and a friend had been involved in a fight with Robert Luisi Sr.'s nephew the day before the shooting. This incident was one of several that fueled the animosity between the two families. On the evening of the shooting, Damian Clemente and Vincent Perez were at the 99 Restaurant when Robert Luisi Sr. and his party entered. Feeling threatened, Damian called his father, Anthony Clemente, who arrived at the restaurant armed.
Words were exchanged between the two groups, and the situation quickly spiraled out of control. Anthony Clemente, claiming he acted to protect his son, opened fire. He shot Roman Luisi first, followed by Sonny Pelosi and then Robert Luisi Sr. Anthony Clemente and his son, Damian, were later arrested in connection with the killings. A bullet recovered from Robert Luisi Sr.'s body was matched to a gun found in Damian's possession.
Anthony Clemente was subsequently convicted on four counts of murder in the first degree, as well as charges of armed assault with intent to murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. His son, Damian Clemente, was also convicted of one count of first-degree murder. The defense argued that the Clementes acted in self-defense, citing a history of violence and threats from the Luisi family. However, the prosecution successfully argued that the killings were a deliberate act of violence. The shooting at the 99 Restaurant marked a bloody chapter in the ongoing feuds within Boston's criminal underworld.
