A member of the Downriver gang run by Joe Tocco, Joe Locano rose to the attention of the public when he was arrested and tried in the Vernor Avenue Fish Market murders in 1930. Locano's participation in one of the most highly publicized gang murders in Detroit history threatened to destroy the peace which had reigned in Detroit for nearly a decade.
The Vernor Fish Market Murders
With underworld ambitions held in check by the firm hand of Sam Catalanotte for nearly a decade, tensions began to mount as a universally respected figure failed to arise following Sam's death in February of 1930. For 3 months gangs which had been united in partnership under Catalanotte began eyeing a larger share of the rackets which had been cut up and evenly distributed by the departed Sicilian underworld king. One of the most volaile situations existed between the Eastside Mob headed by Angelo Meli and a collaboration of gangs consisting of Catalanotte's old faction "now headed by his brother Joe," the Westside Mob under Chester LaMare and Joe Tocco's boys from downriver. Animosities had long existed between Meli and Chester LaMare who had once been allied Sam and Tony Gianolla untill the elimination of the feudist gangsters in 1919.
LaMare quickly joined forces with John Vitale and took up arms against the Gianolla remnants headed by Catalanotte. Upon the elimination of Vitale, LaMare was welcomed back into the fold by Catalanotte but men like Meli, Bill Tocco and Joe Zerilli never forgave nor forgot. Locano was not old enough to have been apart of the Gianolla/Vitale conflict but he was thrown right into the center of the brewing conflict between East and Westside Mobs in 1930. Following several raids and forays into Eastside territory by the combined forces of Catalanotee, LaMare and Tocco, Meli's forces counter attacked sending several LaMare gunmen to the grave.
After 3 months of back and fourth without either side gaining a decisive upperhand, a meeting was setup at the Vernor Avenue Fish Market owned by Philip Guastello. On the agenda was the ambitions of Joe Catalanotte to succeed his deceased brother as head of the combine and Chester LaMare's disregard for boundry's long ago established. On the other side was the actions of Meli and the River gang headed by the Licavoli brohters which cut Catalanotte "long a trafficker in narcotics," out of a lucrative narcotics pipeline coming into Detroit from Canada. The meeting was suggested by LaMare and Angelo Meli immediately sensed a setup.
Instead of attending the meeting himself with Black Bill Tocco, "as requested by LaMare," Meli dispatched Gaspar Milazzo "aka Sciblia or Lombardo" to attend the meeting. Milazzo arrived at noon on Saturday May 31, 193 for the meeting at 2739 East Vernor Highway along with his bodyguard Sam Parrino. The only evidence as to what transpired shortly after the arrival of the two for the conference is statements taken from Tony Cochello, John Ferliko, a fellow by the name of Gatano and the dying Sam Parrino. Parrino stated that he and Milazzo arrived at the meeting and were escourted through the Fish Market to the living quarters located in the rear of the establishment.
Soon after being seated, two men entered the room and opened fire without saying a word. In the barrage of fire, Milazzo was shot at close range with a shotgun and died instantly. The coroners report states that the fatal shots were fired from close range as powder burns were clearly visible on the clothing and skin of the victm. Parrino "shot in the adomen," lived long enough to give the above statements but died several hours later at Receiving Hospital in Detroit.
The Vernor Highway Fallout
Enraged by the blatant attack aimed at them, Meli and Tocco reached out to an former friend of LaMare's Leonardo Cellura who had recently broken with his longtime partner after having his narcotics shipments raided while he was on the lam in Canada. Cellura arranged for the elimination of LaMare by men known to be close to Chester on the evening of February 7, 1931. Cellura learned the shooters in the Fish Market slaying were Locano, Joe Amico and Beny the Ape Sebastiano. These men lives were spared in exchange for the death of LaMare and Catalanotte.
Catalanotte quickly retreated to his Grosse Pointe mansion and surrounded himself with gunmen "who included Amico and Locano in addition to Baggio Bonconotti amoung others. Catalanotte's life was spared after his home was raided on July 27, 1930 and an arsenal of more than 50 weapons were confiscated including 2 used in the unsolved gangland murders of Jerry Buckley and Sam and Joe Gaglio. Catalanotte and Elmer Macklin "the man who would fire the fatal shots into the head of Chester LaMare 8 months later," were accused of killing Barney Roth and Johnny Mietz on July 5, 1930. Locano was tried and acquitted in the Fish Market murders and removed himself from Detroit joining up with the Joe Tocco gang opeating out of Wynandotte.
More Trouble Downriver
Locano returned to the headlines following his arrest on December 3, 1931 in connection with shotgun shells found in the home of Mike D'Anna the nephew of murdered fuedist cheiftains Tony and Sam Gianolla. Locano appeared in court along with Vincent Denigis and was released after being questioned by prosecuting attorney George S. Fitzgerald. During the investigation which followed Locano was linked with Joe and Sam Tocco in a bootlegging operation which operated in the Downriver area.
