Toronto police say one man is in custody, a second is awaiting extradition and a third is being sought in an execution-style killing that occurred in Little Italy last June.
All three are facing first-degree murder charges in the slaying of 35-year-old John Raposo, who was shot in the head on a crowded patio at the Sicilian Sidewalk Café on College Street, east of Ossington Avenue. A second man was injured.
Staff Insp. Greg McLane, who oversees the homicide squad, said Raposo's planned killing is linked to organized crime.
McLane said Raposo and the people accused of plotting to kill him were allegedly involved in a "criminal enterprise" and "as a result he met his demise."
McLane said Raposo was targeted in the shooting, which occurred as dozens of people watched a televised Euro 2012 soccer match on the patio.
Witnesses told CP24 that a man dressed in construction clothing walked up to Raposo and fired several gunshots at close range.
Three days later, police charged 26-year-old Vancouver, B.C., resident Dean Wiwchar, the alleged gunman, with first-degree murder, but they told reporters that they were looking for additional suspects.
On Wednesday, police announced that two more men are in custody and a fourth is on the lam.
Nicola “Nick” Nero, 36, of Niagara Falls appeared in court Wednesday morning, while Martino Caputo is in custody in Germany and is being held pending extradition proceedings.
Nero, an alleged drug kingpin, was already in custody on drug charges. Caputo, a 39-year-old Toronto resident, is being held on a Toronto Police Service warrant for first-degree murder and a Niagara Regional Police Service warrant for drug charges.
Police are still looking for 25-year-old Rabih Alkhalil, who is known to frequent the Montreal and Ottawa areas and may have contacts in Vancouver, according to police.
Anyone with information about Alkhalil’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or their local police service.
He is also wanted by Niagara police and the Surete du Quebec for drug- and organized crime-related offences.
Niagara police charged Alkhalil, Nero and Caputo in a massive drug sting last year.
Meanwhile, homicide detectives are asking anyone with information about Raposo’s death to call police at 416-808-7403 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
Toronto police said they made a breakthrough in the case with the help of Montreal police, the Surete du Quebec, Vancouver police, York Regional Police, Niagara police and the RCMP.
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