Gaetano Lococo

Arrival in Kansas City

In the 1930s, Lococo was frequently mentioned in local newspaper articles about major mob-related events. According to

Shootout with the Sheriff

By pure chance, County Sheriff Bash, one of his deputies, the sheriff's wife, and a teenaged girl were a block away from the murder scene when they heard gunfire; they all were returning from a party. The sheriff directed his deputy to drive toward the sound of the gunfire. As the sheriff's car stopped at Armour and Forest, Gargotta and Lococo were still standing in the street. Scola and Fasone were in the front seat of the getaway car with the engine running. Scola saw Sheriff Bash exit his car with a 12 gauge shotgun; he gunned the engine and plowed his getaway car directly into the Sheriff's car. Still in their wrecked car, both Scola and Fasone opened fire on Bash, but he quickly cut them down with his riot gun (Scola and Fasone died at the scene).

Meanwhile, Lococo took off on foot (his headquarters was a few blocks away). The deputy, now out of the car, exchanged shots with Lococo. Throwing down his gun, Lococo disappeared down an alley. As Lococo made his escape, Gargotta charged Sheriff Bash with guns blazing. However, Gargotta soon ran out of ammunition and surrendered to Bash.

Despite the dubious efforts of the local police force (which was very corrupt at the time), Lococo was never charged with Anthon's murder or the ensuing shootout. But in 1939, during a citywide cleanup campaign, Lococo was charged with

Later years

By the late 1940s, Lococo was stricken with

In March 1950, Lococo was identified at a conference of U.S. and

In the 1960s, Lococo retired in Kansas City. In his later years, a Kansas City pizza restaurant ("Gaetano's") was reportedly named for him. In the late 1990s, Gaetano Lococo died of natural causes.

References