Casoria – He wanted to "get his name out there," he wanted to prove himself a boss, and, above all, he needed to wash away with blood a slap in the face he'd given the wrong person. Vincenzo De Rosa, born in 2000, fled at dawn after being arrested pursuant to a pre-trial detention order signed by investigating judge Giovanni Vinciguerra.
The young man is charged with attempted murder aggravated by mafia methods for the shooting that, on November 20, 2024, transformed Via Salvo D'Acquisto into a battlefield. The commando's target was Salvatore Barbato, alias "Totore 'o can," a rising leader of the rival Franzese clan, who was seriously injured along with the innocent Mauro Sorrentino.
The Camorra War: Franzese vs. "Panzarottari"
The scenario reconstructed by the DDA and accepted by the Court of Naples is that of a fierce feud over the power vacuum left by the Moccia clan. On one side, the historic Franzese group (led by brothers Mauro and Antonio), on the other, the new alliance between Roberto Alfio Maugeri's group and the so-called "Panzarottari" of Afragola.
At the heart of the conflict was control of the Casoria drug market. Barbato, on behalf of the Franzese family, was attempting to assert dominance over the drug dealing hubs, leading to armed conflict with rivals who refused to yield ground.
The background: the humiliation at the cooperative
The fuse that detonated the powder keg was lit the day before the ambush, on November 19, 2024. Barbato, in a frenzy of criminal omnipotence, showed up at the headquarters of the social cooperative "L'uomo e il legno" on Via San Pietro. There, he intercepted Antonio De Rosa, brother of the suspect Vincenzo.
Wiretaps and witness statements reconstruct a humiliating scene: Barbato attacks Antonio De Rosa, grabs him by the throat, and issues a terrifying ultimatum: “Don't get too close to me, and tell your brother and his friends not to shoot at my house again.”
Barbato threatened to exterminate the De Rosa family if they didn't stop the "stese" (raids) against his home. A public affront that, in the logic of Gomorrah, is tantamount to a death sentence.
Hellfire: Kalashnikov and 9x21
Revenge arrives promptly less than 24 hours later. It's the late afternoon of November 20th. Barbato is on Via Salvo D'Acquisto with Mauro Sorrentino (who had attempted to act as peacemaker the day before).
A commando, driving a white Jeep Compass with tinted windows, opens fire. It's not a warning; it's a miraculously unsuccessful execution. At least twelve shots are fired using two deadly weapons: a 9x21 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 7,62 caliber Kalashnikov machine gun.
Barbato was riddled with bullets: a bullet pierced his left lung, requiring delicate emergency surgery. Sorrentino was hit in the wrists and legs.
“He wanted to make a name for himself”: the wiretaps
It wasn't just the ballistics investigation that framed Vincenzo De Rosa, but the words of his own enemies. The Franzese brothers (Antonio and Ido Alcide), wiretapped immediately after the events, had no doubts about the shooter's identity. "Was it Vincenzino himself? And Roberto (Maugeri, ed.) said he had nothing to do with it?" asks Ido. Antonio Franzese replies tersely: "That's what Vincenzo made me understand... basically, he made a deal with him... they had a tough time."
The conversations reveal De Rosa's criminal profile, described as an ambitious and unscrupulous young man who acted on his own initiative to avenge his brother and climb the ranks: "Because now he wanted his name out there!" the Franzeses comment.
And again: “Vincenzino’s brother! He says he went up to a house and hit someone badly… that Totore went up to where he worked… now he’s taken the job.”
The repentant: "He was the regent, he shot out of revenge."
Closing the loop are the statements of Giovanni Barra, a former Maugeri gang member who cooperated with the justice system. Barra confirms the motive: "Vincenzino was Maugeri's right-hand man and was considered a boss in Casoria, so he couldn't tolerate the affront inflicted on him by Totore 'o can, who had beaten his brother."
The informer recognizes De Rosa in a photo and explains that the attack was a direct response to the attack on his brother Antonio. Barra also reveals disturbing details about the group's arsenal, mentioning Skorpion submachine guns and other weapons stored for live fire.
For investigating judge Vinciguerra, the evidence is crystal clear: Vincenzo De Rosa acted with animus necandi, shooting to kill and asserting his criminal group's dominance over the streets of Casoria.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (2)
It's true, the situation in Casoria is critical, and the authorities should do more to ensure the safety of its citizens. It's sad to see how people are caught up in these deadly gang wars.
This article presents a complicated and dangerous situation. It seems the feud between the clans is only worsening and there's no immediate solution in sight. The violence is unacceptable, yet people continue to live in fear.