Funeral Service for Joseph Gatto to Be Held Monday

By City News Service

Funeral services will be held Monday for Joseph Gatto, the 78-year-old father of Assemblyman Mike Gatto.

Joseph Gatto was shot to death Nov. 13 in his home in the 2800 block of Bright Lane in Silver Lake. The killer remains at large.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. at Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 2060 N. Vermont Ave. Public parking will be provided at the Greek Theater, and shuttles will be provided.

Police are continuing to investigate Gatto's killing. Investigators recently circulated fliers in the Silver Lake community with a drawing of a possible suspect.

The suspect was spotted the night before the killing and threatened witnesses with death when he was caught breaking into a vehicle in the 2300 block of Moreno Drive, according to Officer Sara Faden of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section.

When the first of two witnesses confronted the suspect, he pointed a gun and threatened to kill her. When another witness confronted the suspect, he repeated the threat. He then fled on foot down public stairs on Tesla Avenue.

The suspect was described as white, 5 feet 9 inches, 180 pounds, and in his early 20s. He was wearing a multi-colored hooded sweatshirt and tan pants, a tan backpack and displayed a handgun.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call Los Angeles police detectives Barry Telis or Chris Gable at (213) 486-6890 or the LAPD's hotline at (877) 527-3247.

Gatto's family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to one of three charities:

-- The Historic Italian Hall Foundation, 125 Paseo De La Plaza, suite 400, Los Angeles, 90012;

-- The Los Angeles Community Garden Council, 4470 W. Sunset Blvd. #381, Los Angeles, 90027; or

-- the Tuition Magician, Attn: Joe Gatto Arts Scholarship, 4470 W. Sunset Blvd #378, Los Angeles, 90027.