A high ranking police source tells FOX 29 News that ballistics tests on a gun recovered from the SUV of mob soldier Anthony Nicodemo match bullets taken from the body of the murder victim in Wednesday's suspected mob hit.
Sources also tell FOX 29 that investigators have recovered a sweatshirt and a mask believed to be used in Wednesday night's homicide.
Police sources say the evidence was taken to the police forensic crime lab.
While the current power brokers of the local members of the mob were held up in their South Philly hangout Thursday, mob soldier Anthony Nicodemo was still with the homicide unit as detectives continued to build a murder case against the 41-year-old wise guy.
"We do have someone that we're very interested in that we're talking to now," said Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey.
Nicodemo was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon when a witness to the murder of 51-year-old Gino DiPietro at 13th and Johnston gave police a description of a getaway SUV and the tag number.
Minutes later, police found that SUV at Nicodemo's house and took him in for questioning.
"The case is moving forward and it is developing," Ramsey told FOX 29. "There's a lot of information out there and we're trying to do some things forensically."
"We are not charged with a single act of physical violence," said defense attorney Edwin Jacobs.
The Mob hit came as the defense was about to open its case in the eight-week racketeering trial of Mob Boss Joe Ligambi and six others. The defense has claimed all along that Ligambi and the others had no ties to any mob violence.
"I'm sure the judge will do his best to insulate the jury from any of this news exposure," Jacobs told FOX 29.
Mob Expert Frank Friel says the timing of this hit couldn't be worse. Several sources say DiPietro may have been killed because he was talking about the unsolved 2003 mob hit on Johnny "Gongs" Cassasanto. Nicodemo has been called a "prime suspect" in that murder.
"To leave a body in the street in the grotesque manner that they left this guy in the street is stupid, just plain stupid," Friel explained.
Crime scene experts are performing DNA tests on items they recovered from Nicodemo's car and home.
Police are concerned about more mob violence as a result of this hit. Two police cars were stationed at Nicodemo's 17th Street home overnight.
The judge in the Ligambi racketeering case is expected to question each of the jurors in the case on Tuesday about whether they saw news accounts of the mob hit and whether it will affect their ability to reach a verdict. The jury could get this case in early January.
Sources say Nicodemo is not being cooperative with investigators and he remains in custody. No charges have been filed.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:26 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:26:23 GMT
When SEPTA trains roll into stations in Radnor Township, Main Line passengers aren't the only ones getting on and off. Police say criminals are now using the rails to pull off home burglaries.
When SEPTA trains roll into stations in Radnor Township, Main Line passengers aren't the only ones getting on and off. Police say criminals are now using the rails to pull off home burglaries here and make their getaway.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 7:13 PM EDT2013-05-15 23:13:23 GMT
These Crime Scene Investigators have processed thousands of gruesome crime scenes over their careers, but what they saw inside Doctor Kermit Gosnell's abortion clinic back in 2010 was a nightmare.
These Crime Scene Investigators have processed thousands of gruesome crime scenes over their careers, but what they saw inside Doctor Kermit Gosnell's abortion clinic back in 2010 was a nightmare.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 4:54 PM EDT2013-05-15 20:54:35 GMT
"Kermit Gosnell at some point became a monster." District Attorney Seth Williams shot straight from the hip as he spoke for the first time since abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell was found guilty this
"Kermit Gosnell at some point became a monster." District Attorney Seth Williams shot straight from the hip as he spoke for the first time since abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell was found guilty this
Monday, May 13 2013 7:02 PM EDT2013-05-13 23:02:49 GMT
She wanted to spend Mother's Day with her children and new granddaughter. Instead, she spent it at a hospital and on the couch after she says she was attacked near the Frankford Transportation Center.
She wanted to spend Mother's Day with her children and new granddaughter. Instead, she spent it at a hospital and on the couch after she says she was attacked near the Frankford Transportation Center.
Thursday, May 9 2013 5:09 PM EDT2013-05-09 21:09:22 GMT
Two-and-a-half years after she was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by her former boyfriend, Diane Corado's body has been found and positively identified.
Two-and-a-half years after she was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by her former boyfriend, Diane Corado's body has been found and positively identified.
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:20 AM EDT2013-05-19 12:20:57 GMT
Finding a job without a college degree can be a difficult task, even if you're a war veteran. Now, they have the opportunity to turn their military training into college credits.
Finding a job without a college degree can be a difficult task, even if you're a war veteran. Now, they have the opportunity to turn their military training into college credits.
Sunday, May 19 2013 7:58 AM EDT2013-05-19 11:58:46 GMT
Once hailed as a hero after surviving a shotgun blast to his face in 2007, a former police officer is now charged with raping and sexually assaulting two women at gunpoint he met at a party.
Once hailed as a hero after surviving a shotgun blast to his face in 2007, a former police officer is now charged with raping and sexually assaulting two women at gunpoint he met at a party.
Sunday, May 19 2013 1:45 AM EDT2013-05-19 05:45:51 GMT
A Powerball jackpot-winning ticket worth an estimated $590.5 million was sold in Florida, but there were also million-dollar winners sold in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to the lottery.
A Powerball jackpot-winning ticket worth an estimated $590.5 million was sold in Florida, but there were also million-dollar winners sold in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to the lottery's website.
Saturday, May 18 2013 9:28 PM EDT2013-05-19 01:28:06 GMT
Rain moved in Saturday afternoon and the chance for it will stick around through the seven day forecast.
It becomes very unsettled across our area with clounds and showers again Sunday. The best chance for rain is in the morning and afternoon thunderstorms are possible towards our south.
Sunday is cool but we do warm up well into the 80s by Tuesday. With the warm weather comes a better chance for thunderstorms.
Friday, May 17 2013 11:44 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:44:01 GMT
A couple of Good Samaritans helped rescue a 3-year-old boy's lifeless body from an Allentown creek. Their quick thinking and help from police helped bring the boy back to life.
A couple of Good Samaritans helped rescue a 3-year-old boy's lifeless body from an Allentown creek. Their quick thinking and help from police helped bring the boy back to life.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:38 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:38:13 GMT
A woman who lived with a Delaware pediatrician accused of waterboarding her 11-year-old daughter has agreed to plead guilty to child endangerment charges and testify against him.
A woman who lived with a Delaware pediatrician accused of waterboarding her 11-year-old daughter has agreed to plead guilty to child endangerment charges and testify against him.
Police investigators at the scene of the Wednesday South Philly shooting.
