PHILADELPHIA (August 20, 2024) — District Attorney Larry Krasner and members of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF) announced on Tuesday the arrests of Salvatore Branco and Rhett Mazza for their roles in a shootout that occurred in July of 2024 in the city’s Moyamensing section.
Branco is charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Assault (F1), VUFA 6106 (F3), VUFA 6108 (M1), Possession of an Instrument of Crime (M1), 2 counts of Simple Assault (M2), and 2 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2).
Mazza is charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Assault (F1), VUFA 6105 (F1), VUFA 6106 (F3), VUFA 6108 (M1), Possession of an Instrument of Crime (M1), 2 counts of Simple Assault (M2), and 2 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2).
Branco has also been charged with the straw purchasing of eleven firearms and charged with Conspiracy– (F2), 6111 (g)(2) – (F2), 6111(g)(4)(ii) – (F3), ten counts of 6111(g)(4)(ii) – (F2), 6111 (g)(1) – (M2), ten counts of 6111 (g)(1) – (F2), eleven counts of 4911(a)(1) – (F3), eleven counts of 6115 – (M1), and eleven counts of 4904 – M2.
The incident began at approximately 5PM on July 25, 2024 on the1300 block of Porter Street, when Branco and Mazza started opening fire at each other. Surveillance cameras captured residents walking their dogs and children playing on the block running for cover. The defendants exchanged approximately 20 gunshots before they fled the scene. A 72-year-old woman sustained a nonfatal gunshot wound. One resident’s dog was fatally shot in the head.
Branco later turned himself in to police and surrendered the firearm used in the shootout.
At the time of the shooting, Branco was under investigation for the straw purchase of eleven firearms, three of which turned up in criminal cases around the city. One of his firearms was found in a home along with five other firearms, some in stolen status, and one of them used in a homicide. Another firearm turned up after an aggravated assault incident, and one was recovered from a narcotics stash location. Branco never reported these firearms stolen and many of the firearms he purchased were identical makes and models.
“I commend the thorough and dedicated investigation of this brazen act of gun violence by the Philadelphia Police Department’s Shooting Investigation Group,” said DA Krasner. “I also thank Agent Marano of the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and members of the Gun Violence Task Force for their excellent investigation of Mr. Branco’s straw purchasing activity. These arrests send a clear message to those who terrorize our community and traffic guns that they will be held accountable for their willful disregard for public safety.”
“I want to thank Agent Don Marano of the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General for his invaluable assistance in this straw purchasing investigation,” said Assistant District Attorney Kevin Bentancur of the Gun Violence Task Force. “I also want to thank the members of the PPD’s Shooting Investigation Group for taking these two dangerous individuals off the street. The GVTF will prosecute these men to the fullest extent of the law.”
Branco is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on August 30, 2024 and Mazza is scheduled for his preliminary hearing on September 6, 2024.
CONTACT:
Dustin Slaughter, [email protected], 215-686-8713
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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually. Learn more about the DAO by visiting PhillyDA.org.