Police release photos of man suspected of killing mobster's son, Cece Luppino

Hamilton police have released photos of the man they suspect shot and killed Cece Luppino.

Detective Peter Thom said it's "more than likely" the man was reaching for a gun as he walked up the driveway of the home of his alleged victim.

Luppino, 43, was gunned down on Jan. 30 at the Hamilton home owned by his father, Rocco.

The surveillance video images show a black man wearing a black toque and pants with one hand inside a thick winter coat.

Investigators are asking the public for help identifying the suspect and say the photos were captured by security cameras on Luppino's home on Mountain Brow Blvd. and by cameras on the house next door around 3:10 p.m. on the day of the shooting.

The colour photos are clear and show the alleged killer from multiple angles. Thom said they were distributed among law enforcement, but when no one was able to identify the man, police chose to share them publicly. 

"It's a very good picture," said Thom. "We're hoping someone will recognize him, either from the Hamilton area or beyond."

Police say killing was 'targeted'

Luppino's death is the city's third killing in the past two years where the victim had some connection to organized crime families. All occurred under similar circumstances, with the victim targeted at a family home.

​Court documents filed by the RCMP show the Luppino family is connected to a web of organized crime stretching from Hamilton to Buffalo, N.Y. Rocco Luppino was charged in a fraud case in 1977, but that case was later dropped. He was also charged with conspiracy to commit extortion after an alleged plot to control the trucking industry in 1978, but that case was dropped after a preliminary hearing.

Police have described Luppino's shooting death a "targeted" killing. He did not have a criminal record, and was not known to police.

Investigators previously said Luppino arrived home several minutes before he was killed. Soon after, a man appeared on the east sidewalk of Rendell Boulevard from the south side.

That man milled around for "a short period" before he walked through a neighbouring property to 52 Mountain Brow Blvd., where the victim lived, according to police.

He walked into the open garage, police say. After the shooting, the man ran back in the same direction and was last seen running southbound on Rendell Boulevard.

Luppino was found lying in the doorway of his home by a family member.

Thom said police are continuing to pore over hours of surveillance video for any further evidence that could help with the case.

Anyone with information about the shooting or suspect is asked to call Det. Doug Jonovich at 905-546-4863 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.