The feds have charged two Manhattan men they believe killed the son of a Queens pizzeria owner in a botched 2009 home invasion as the victim tried to protect his cancer-stricken dad.
Antoine Burroughs, 25, and Leon Whitfield, 23, were slapped with murder, attempted robbery and weapons charges in connection with the Sept 9, 2009 shooting death of Gerardo Antoniello, 29, at his Ozone Park home. The victim was killed defending his father Bartolomeo Antoniello, the owner of a Howard Beach pizzeria.
The alleged gunmen coldly stood over the victim as he lay face down on the floor and pumped a bullet into the back of his head, execution style, in front of his helpless dad, authorities said.
Whitfield was arrested and presented before a magistrate judge in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday before being ordered detained while Burroughs is still at large. They could face the death penalty if convicted.
“As alleged, Burroughs and Whitfield had no regard for life, especially the life of Gerardo Antoniello,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos said. “They illegally entered Antoniello’s father’s home with the intention of robbing him of any cash on hand from Antoniello’s pizza shop.”
Francis LaCorte, an alleged Gambino mobster, was convicted in 2012 of being the “puppeteer’’ who pulled the strings on a vicious gang of home invaders who hit three homes, including Bartolomeo Antoniello’s. He was sentenced to 50 years to life.
An accomplice to LaCorte, Vincent Mineo, previously got 20 years in a plea deal. Cops say they cased the neighborhood, identified target homes and then dispatched hired thugs.