BROOKLYN — A man suspected of murdering L&B Spumoni Gardens co-owner Louis Barbati was seen casually walking down a Dyker Heights street wearing baggy shorts and a dark hoodie just before the fatal shooting, according to video released by the NYPD.
Investigators think Barbati, 61, who had $10,000 on him at the time of the shooting, may have been killed in a botched robbery attempt. The suspect shot Barbati five times after the restaurant owner returned to his home at 7601 12th Ave. at about 7 p.m. on June 30.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Bob Boyce said during a July 1 press conference that Barbati did not “normally” carry that amount of money on him.
The would-be robber, believed to be in his 30s, fled without taking any of the cash or jewelry Barbati was wearing.
The famed restaurant dates back to 1917 when Ludovico Barbati emigrated to Booklyn and started selling pizza from a horse-drawn cart in Gravesend and Bensonhurst.
The Barbati family is offering a $50,000 reward for the capture of the of Barbati's killer, the New York Post reported on July 3.
Anyone with information can call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
