With his health fading from cancer and heart failure, Anthony Turra's life came to a violent end styled after the tactics he had recommended his reputed drug-kingpin son use against mob enemies.
Turra was cut down by gunshots as he walked down his front steps Wednesday on his way to a federal courthouse, where a jury was deliberating over his role in a plot to kill reputed Philadelphia mob underboss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino.A man paused to say something to Turra, then shot him twice, witnesses told police.
The shooter - a paunchy man who wore sneakers and a black ski mask - took off running down the narrow street and got away.