HAMILTON—A fatal gangland-style hit targeting mobster Angelo Musitano may be the start of a new crime war in Hamilton.

Musitano, who would have celebrated his 40th birthday on Sunday, was gunned down in the driveway of his Waterdown home Tuesday at about 4 p.m., the Spectator has confirmed. Neighbours said they heard multiple shots fired.

A source not authorized to speak on the record said Angelo — a member of one of Hamilton’s crime families — was shot and died at the scene. The source also acknowledged that Musitano’s older brother, 49-year-old Pasquale (Pat), is likely very concerned about his own safety.

“The war is on,” said the source, who has knowledge of the crime but is not authorized to speak officially about the case.

Police cordoned off Chesapeake Drive in suburban Waterdown after several shots were reportedly fired at a man in a driveway at 14 Chesapeake Dr.

Mike King, who said he has been a good friend of Angelo’s since meeting him at a Christian men’s group several years ago, was shattered by the news.

“Ang (Angelo) had left his past behind him,” King said. “Ang would stand up for what’s right for everyone. He was a devoted father and was devoted in his faith. He was a good person.”

King said the father of three loved his wife dearly and was living a clean life, running a legitimate business.

“He loved the Lord. He changed his life for the Lord.”

Musitano recently wrote a book about his life, said King, telling the story of overcoming his criminal past.

King sent excerpts from the book to the Spectator.

“At the age of 21 I was charged with two counts of first-degree murder,” wrote Musitano. One of these charges was eventually dropped, but for the second I was sentenced to 10 years in prison.”

“During my formative years and while serving my sentence, I saw first-hand the worst of the human condition — beatings, stabbings and murder — and it began to have a profound effect on me. I wanted to try to distance myself from my past, but on my release it seemed that there was only one life for an ex-con. Nobody seemed willing to take a chance on a man with a record.”

He goes on to write about meeting his wife and struggling to find work.

“For a time I still walked on the wrong side of life . . . . And then God found me.”

The Musitano brothers were charged with first-degree murder in the May 1997 contract killing of Hamilton mob boss Johnny (Pops) Papalia, 73.

Papalia was gunned down by hitman Kenny Murdock in daylight as he walked through a parking lot.

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Angelo Musitano was just 21 at the time, while Pat Musitano was 31.

A deal allowed the brothers to plead guilty to the lesser offence of conspiracy to commit murder in the shooting death of Niagara crime boss Carmen Barillaro in 1997.