Gothamist: Scenes From An Italian Restaurant

December 24, 2003

Scenes From An Italian Restaurant

Rule number one of eating at an Italian restaurant with alleged mob ties (but there's evidence of that at Rao's): Keep your complaints to yourself. Rule number two: Shut up.

Murder victim Albert Cicerelli; Photo: NY Times

More details are emerging about the shooting at Rao's Italian Restaurant in East Harlem which left Albert Cicerelli (photo) dead. The Daily News (and many other papers) reports that when Rena Strober began to sing "Don't Rain On My Parade," Cicerelli complained, "Oh God. Could someone shut this f–––ing broad up?" Louis Barone said, "Hey, watch your mouth. Mind your manners. You're talking about a lady." Cicerelli responded, "F––– you, I'll f––– you in the ass and I'll split you in two." The two argued some more, until 67 year old Barone fatally shot 37 year old Cicerelli. Barone tells the Post, "I lost face. I had to defend my honor. I had no choice but to shoot him. I had no choice but to kill him."

The NY Times looked at the crime as well as how the murder wasn't that big a deal to the neighborhood, at least not to the homeless guy rooting through the dumpster out front. The Post also notes that Rao's did "bang up" business last night, post murder.

Moblike names mentioned in the articles: Louis Lump Lump (Barone), Nicky the Vest (the Rao's bartender), Frankie No (Rao's owner Frank Pellegrino)

By Jen Chung in News | Link | Comments (4) | Recommend this! |

Tags: crime, Daily News, East Harlem, Harlem, homeless, Italian, Louis Barone, murder, Murder, News, News: NYC, NY Times, Oh God, parade, rain, Rain, Restaurant, shooting, The Daily News, The NY, The NY Times, The Post

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Comments (4)

By Jesus

[1] | 12/24/03 12:19PM

Anyone notice that this thug with the mullet is listed as either being an exterminator (Daily News) or the owner of an ambulette (NY Post) service? Sounds like Christopher from the Sopranos if you ask me.

By Jen

[2] | 12/24/03 02:15PM

It is an unfortunate photograph - it seems like it's from his high school yearbook, no?

By jake

[3] | 12/24/03 04:15PM

yeah- both the victim and the shooter were described as members of the lucheses... i think people should be careful when using the phrase "fuck you, i'll fuck you in the ass and split you in two", for they make very poor last words.

By Jeff D

[4] | 12/27/03 01:45AM

I *swear* I thought this was an old picture of Jerry Seinfeld... from the 80's or something.