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Video Shows Alleged Bronx Mob Associate Miraculously Surviving Botched Hit
Salvatore Zottola managed to survive an attack from a masked gunman, despite being hit three times.
Update, Oct. 5, 2018: Sylvester Zottola, the father of Salvatore Zottola, was shot dead at a McDonald's drive-thru by an unknown assailant, police say.
A surveillance video shared by the NYPD shows the son of an alleged mobster miraculously survive a botched hit from a masked assailant.
The footage shows Salvatore Zottola narrowly escaping from the attack, which occurred at around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Locust Point area of the Bronx, according to the New York Post. Zottola was shot three times in his chest and hand in the encounter had a bullet graze his skull.
Surveillance video of the scene shows a dark-colored Nissan with New Jersey plates rolling up to Zottola. A masked man exits the vehicle and opens fire on Zottola, who hits the ground in an attempt to dodge the attack. The gunman hurries back to his vehicle and drives off.
Zottola was hospitalized and is now in serious but stable condition, according to the New York Daily News.
The motive for the attack remains unclear.
Salvatore's father, Sylvester Zottola, had been arrested on June 12 after exchanging gunfire with an unnamed assailant in the Bronx, according to the New York Daily News. Sylvester Zottola was charged with weapons possession, and reckless endangerment. He did not have a permit for his gun.
Before that, the senior Zottola had survived an attack from a knife-wielding assailant who had been burglarizing his home on a Dec. 27, 2017, according to the Daily News. It is unclear if this most recent attack is related to either of those events.
The Zottola family have been associated with Bonanno family boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano, who was jailed for life in 2007 after being convicted of murder.
A Zottola family member bruskly dismissed reporters with a flippant comment outside the hospital where Salvatore is being treated.
“We want to thank everyone for their kind words, but you can go f--k yourself,” the unnamed associate said outside the Jacobi Medical Center, according to the New York Daily News.
An unnamed neighbor was not shocked by the attack.
“It’s not a surprise. Look at what he does for a living,” the local told the New York Post. “I can’t say any more. It’s not worth my life. It’s not worth my daughter’s life.”
[Photo: NYPD]
