The man accused of whacking Gambino crime boss Francesco Cali outside of his Staten Island home allegedly said he knew his own life was in danger the second he pulled the trigger, a court heard on Thursday.
Prosecutors say Anthony Comello, 24, frantically typed out a text message, reading ‘I’m on the run,’ and ‘My family is marked,’ moments after reportedly administering the tenth and final shot into Cali’s back.
He was indicted for Cali’s murder in the second-degree in April, and he appeared in court yesterday requesting to be released from jail on a $1 million bond.
Attempting to a favor his client’s standing, Comello’s attorney, Robert Gottlieb insisted upon his prospective release, Comello would be placed into the care of his parents.
Anthony Comello, 24, frantically typed out a text message, reading ‘I’m on the run,’ and ‘My family is marked,’ moments after reportedly killing Frank Cali (pictured Thursday)
He was indicted for Cali’s murder in the second-degree in April, and he appeared in court yesterday requesting to be released from jail on a $1 million bail
‘The parents are good responsible people,’ Gottlieb said, speaking of Comello’s retired construction worker father, and his mother who worked for Bloomberg for three decades.
‘The family had to guarantee and also support that bond by putting up their life savings and more.’
Judge William Garnett however said that despite the defendant having more than 40 family members living in Staten Island, the threat of what law enforcement call a potential relation from the mob means his parents would likely be unable – or unwilling - to supervise him upon his release, for their own safety.
‘The family ties…in my judgement are now non-existent since the shooting,’ Garnett ruled.
In response, Gottlieb unveiled a plan for Comello’s bail terms, where he would wear a GPS tracking device, call the local police precinct daily and have a member of his family watching him 24 hours a day.
But prosecutors say the once close-knit Comello family have been torn apart since Cali’s execution, and volunteers to supervise the 24-year-old will be in short supply.
They said family relations were already fraught prior to Camello’s arrest.
Comello allegedly drove to Cali's Staten Island home on March 13 and backed his pickup truck into the mobster's Cadillac Escalade (above) and shot him 10 times
He allegedly pulled out a pistol and shot Cali 10 times before fleeing the scene. Authorities said they found Comello's fingerprints on the license plate.
Comello’s attorney, Robert Gottlieb insisted upon his prospective release, the 24-year-old would be placed into the care of his parents
Unemployed for some time, in the months leading up to Cali’s death Camello had become an active member of the far-right conspiracy group QAnon, who believes its law are the only law and the country should adopt them.
‘Prior to this homicide, your honor, the defendant’s family wanted him out of their home,’ said Assistant District Attorney Carrie Low to Staten Island Live. ‘They were encouraging him
