Popular Philadelphia mummer, 62, and his daughter, 36, arrested for 'beating and shooting homeless man in brutal attack that was caught on video'
Captured on surveillance camera attacking a homeless man, police said
Footage shows Rita apparently striking victim in chest with baseball bat
As the man tries to run, Carmen then seemingly fires two shots at his leg
Victim was taken to nearby hospital, where he was treated for broken leg
D'Amatos, who reportedly fled scene, charged with aggravated assault
They are due to appear in court on November 16 for preliminary hearing
Carmen is well-known in area; inducted into Mummers Hall of Fame at 21
Carmen D'Amato and Rita D'Amato were charged with aggravated assault in relation to the attack in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia. The duo turned themselves in to police Friday.
A father-daughter duo in Philadelphia has been charged in an apparent act of vigilante justice after they beat and shot a homeless man suspected of breaking into neighborhood cars, police say.
Carmen D’Amato, 62, is a well-known mummer in his South Philly neighborhood who allegedly recruited his daughter, 36-year-old Rita D’Amato, to hit the 36-year-old victim with a baseball bat before the elder D’Amato shot him in the leg along a Queen Village street Oct. 25, cops told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“You know what you did, you son of a bitch,” Rita allegedly yelled at the man before smashing him in the chest with the bat.
Carmen D'Amato (pictured left) and his daughter armed with a baseball bat, approach the man they beat and shot after suspecting him of a string of car break-ins, police said.Carmen D'Amato (pictured left) and his daughter armed with a baseball bat, approach the man they beat and shot after suspecting him of a string of car break-ins, police said.PreviousNext36-year-old Rita D'Amato and her father 62-year-old Carmen D'Amato turn themselves in on Friday October 31, 2014 after attacking a man in Philadelphia earlierthat week. 36-year-old Rita D'Amato and her father 62-year-old Carmen D'Amato turn themselves in on Friday October 31, 2014 after attacking a man in Philadelphia earlierthat week. 36-year-old Rita D'Amato and her father 62-year-old Carmen D'Amato turn themselves in on Friday October 31, 2014 after attacking a man in Philadelphia earlierthat week. Enlarge
PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT VIA YOUTUBE
Surveillance footage of the attack captured both D’Amatos allegedly getting retribution for the string of break-ins, though cops have yet to link the victim to any crimes, the Philadelphia Daily News reported.
Rita allegedly tried to delete the video recording, which captured her and her father entering their home wearing the same clothes as the suspects.
Rita D'Amato, 36, bailed out of jail after turning herself in Friday.
RITA D'AMATO VIA FACEBOOK
Rita D'Amato, 36, bailed out of jail after turning herself in Friday.
Carmen (Butch) D’Amato is a legendary mummer, performing at the annual parade and competition in Philly, and making his way into the Mummers Hall of Fame at age 21 as the captain of the South Philly Vikings, a dominate squad that frequently won first place in the Fancy Brigade Division, the Philadelphia Daily News reported.
But his role in a methamphetamine ring derailed Carmen’s career as he spent four years in prison – where he reportedly continued to come up with award-winning parade ideas. The group took first in 1990 by performing as "dancing piles of trash" in a "Dirty Dancing"-themed show, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
Carmen D'Amato is shown at a neighborhood civic association meeting after speaking publicly about an earlier rash of vandalism in the area.
WPVI
Carmen D'Amato is shown at a neighborhood civic association meeting after speaking publicly about an earlier rash of vandalism in the area.
“Butch is the mummer who made it possible. In this club, he is The Man!” his brother, Nicholas D’Amato, told the Philly newspaper of his jailed sibling in 1990 after the club took yet another first-place award.
Nicholas later admitted to his role as a drug kingpin and was sent to the witness protection program after he ratted out family and friends for the federal government, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
Carmen is well-known in the neighborhood, attending civic association meetings and speaking with WPVI-TV in 2010 after a rash of vandalism around his home.
The victim was left with a broken leg, and neighbors were torn over the family’s alleged brand of street justice.
"We were shocked when we heard that something happened on this corner," Kathleen Factor, a nearby neighbor told the newspaper. "Why are they on the corner with a gun and a bat? I mean, call 911. Don't attack someone."
Rita was bailed out after posting $150,000, while her father remains in custody in lieu of $350,000. The handgun was possessed illegally, while they both face a charge of aggravated assault, police said.
Carmen 'Butchie' D'Amato, 62, and Rita D'Amato, 36, arrested on Friday
Captured on surveillance camera attacking a homeless man, police said
Footage shows Rita apparently striking victim in chest with baseball bat
As the man tries to run, Carmen then seemingly fires two shots at his leg
Victim was taken to nearby hospital, where he was treated for broken leg
D'Amatos, who reportedly fled scene, charged with aggravated assault
They are due to appear in court on November 16 for preliminary hearing
Carmen is well-known in area; inducted into Mummers Hall of Fame at 21
Carmen D'Amato and Rita D'Amato were charged with aggravated assault in relation to the attack in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia. The duo turned themselves in to police Friday.
A father-daughter duo in Philadelphia has been charged in an apparent act of vigilante justice after they beat and shot a homeless man suspected of breaking into neighborhood cars, police say.
Carmen D’Amato, 62, is a well-known mummer in his South Philly neighborhood who allegedly recruited his daughter, 36-year-old Rita D’Amato, to hit the 36-year-old victim with a baseball bat before the elder D’Amato shot him in the leg along a Queen Village street Oct. 25, cops told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“You know what you did, you son of a bitch,” Rita allegedly yelled at the man before smashing him in the chest with the bat.
Carmen D'Amato (pictured left) and his daughter armed with a baseball bat, approach the man they beat and shot after suspecting him of a string of car break-ins, police said.Carmen D'Amato (pictured left) and his daughter armed with a baseball bat, approach the man they beat and shot after suspecting him of a string of car break-ins, police said.PreviousNext36-year-old Rita D'Amato and her father 62-year-old Carmen D'Amato turn themselves in on Friday October 31, 2014 after attacking a man in Philadelphia earlierthat week. 36-year-old Rita D'Amato and her father 62-year-old Carmen D'Amato turn themselves in on Friday October 31, 2014 after attacking a man in Philadelphia earlierthat week. 36-year-old Rita D'Amato and her father 62-year-old Carmen D'Amato turn themselves in on Friday October 31, 2014 after attacking a man in Philadelphia earlierthat week. Enlarge
PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT VIA YOUTUBE
Surveillance footage of the attack captured both D’Amatos allegedly getting retribution for the string of break-ins, though cops have yet to link the victim to any crimes, the Philadelphia Daily News reported.
Rita allegedly tried to delete the video recording, which captured her and her father entering their home wearing the same clothes as the suspects.
Rita D'Amato, 36, bailed out of jail after turning herself in Friday.
RITA D'AMATO VIA FACEBOOK
Rita D'Amato, 36, bailed out of jail after turning herself in Friday.
Carmen (Butch) D’Amato is a legendary mummer, performing at the annual parade and competition in Philly, and making his way into the Mummers Hall of Fame at age 21 as the captain of the South Philly Vikings, a dominate squad that frequently won first place in the Fancy Brigade Division, the Philadelphia Daily News reported.
But his role in a methamphetamine ring derailed Carmen’s career as he spent four years in prison – where he reportedly continued to come up with award-winning parade ideas. The group took first in 1990 by performing as "dancing piles of trash" in a "Dirty Dancing"-themed show, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
Carmen D'Amato is shown at a neighborhood civic association meeting after speaking publicly about an earlier rash of vandalism in the area.
WPVI
Carmen D'Amato is shown at a neighborhood civic association meeting after speaking publicly about an earlier rash of vandalism in the area.
“Butch is the mummer who made it possible. In this club, he is The Man!” his brother, Nicholas D’Amato, told the Philly newspaper of his jailed sibling in 1990 after the club took yet another first-place award.
Nicholas later admitted to his role as a drug kingpin and was sent to the witness protection program after he ratted out family and friends for the federal government, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
Carmen is well-known in the neighborhood, attending civic association meetings and speaking with WPVI-TV in 2010 after a rash of vandalism around his home.
The victim was left with a broken leg, and neighbors were torn over the family’s alleged brand of street justice.
"We were shocked when we heard that something happened on this corner," Kathleen Factor, a nearby neighbor told the newspaper. "Why are they on the corner with a gun and a bat? I mean, call 911. Don't attack someone."
Rita was bailed out after posting $150,000, while her father remains in custody in lieu of $350,000. The handgun was possessed illegally, while they both face a charge of aggravated assault, police said.
