Organized crime figure slain in daylight shooting in Montreal's West Island

A high-profile member of organized crime in Montrealwas shot and killed Monday afternoon, sources confirmed to Radio-Canada.

Francesco Del Balsowas shot near the corner ofDeacon Street and St-RgisBoulevard inDorvalin Montreal's West Island.

Montreal police were on the scene and reported a shooting with a deceasedvictim.

Del Balsowas arrested as part of the Operation Colise sweep of the Montreal Mafia in 2006. He was convicted of gangsterism and conspiracy to import cocaine.

He was released in 2016, then ordered back into prison over concerns for his safety. Parole board documents at the time described him as "next on an execution list."Del Balso was released again in 2018.

He was arrested in September 2022 by police in Laval, Que.,in connection to threats and extortion against the leaders of a local religious community.

Last March, the Sret du Qubecsearched his home along with the homesof threeinfluential members of the Hells Angels as part of an investigation into drug trafficking.

A week before that search, he had beenquestioned by provincial police investigators when trying to leave for Italy. He was released, but his passport was seized.

The shooting follows two other high profile attacks this year.

In March, Leonardo Rizzuto, who allegedly took over from his father Vito Rizzuto as a Montreal Mafia leader, was shot at in Laval, Que. The car he was driving was hit with multiple bullets. Rizzuto survived with injuries.

On May 16, Claudia Iacona,the daughter-in-law ofMontreal Mafia member Moreno Gallo, waskilled ina targeted shooting in the parking lot of her beauty salon in the Cte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce borough.

Mafia power imbalance

Antonio Nicaso is the author of more than 40 books on organized crime, and he teaches the subject at Queen's University. He said Del Balsoonce managed gambling for the Rizzuto crime family.

"He was a very powerful mobster," said Nicaso.

Nicaso said Del Balso specialized in illegal betting activities, but his efforts to carve out his own space in the field of gambling and extortion led to a clash with the Rizzuto clan.

Challenging the family's senior management led to retaliation, and Del Balso tried to flee the country because he was being hunted, said Nicaso. The conflict escalated.

"We learned he was a suspect in the attempted murder of Leonardo Rizzuto he had some important connections to the Hells Angels," said Nicaso.

WATCH|Francesco Del Balso's role in mafia explained by expert:

Mafia expert explains murder of Montreal mobster

1 year ago

Duration 1:39

Antonio Nicaso, who has authored more than 40 books on organized crime and teaches the subject at Queen's University, says Francesco Del Balso specialized in gambling and worked with the Rizzuto crime family until his efforts to expand illicit activities led to a conflict.

When there is violence like this, it shows a power imbalance among criminal organizations while bringing their activities into the spotlight, he said.

However, the mafia, or mafia-like organizations, are more powerful when they don't use violence because that creates a better environment for them to bribe and corrupt people infiltrating organizations with the goal of making money, Nicaso explained.

"When there is a war, it's always painful for everyone and it's not the best strategy in place to conduct criminal activities," said Nicaso.

Del Balso's murder confirms the mafia war in Montreal is "not yet over," said Nicaso, but it's not clear how far the battle will extend.