A book has been published about the murder of Joseph Gatto, a beloved Italian American artist from Los Angeles. At the urging of friends of his in the media, former California State Assemblyman Mike Gatto wrote the book.  It’s entitled, “Noir by Necessity: How My Father’s Murder Took Me to Dark Places,” and it is available from Amazon and other booksellers.  

Mike Gatto served seven years in the California Legislature, and was the highest-ranking Italian American elected official in the state when his father Joseph was shot to death in 2013. Mike is a fixture in Italian American philanthropy, having co-founded the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles and Little Italy Los Angeles. 

Currently, he runs an international law firm, sits on the Board of Investments for Los Angeles’ 75-billion-dollar pension fund, serves as a Captain in the California Guard, assists the Savoy Foundation, and is a regular commentator on national news shows. 

The book details the ten-year saga of a son’s search for answers about his father’s murder.  “I am blessed to have a platform to keep my father’s case in the public eye. I have politics, an online following, and a media presence.  This book is for all the families of murder victims who do not have such a platform, but who need the system to pay attention to their plights.” said Gatto.  

Over 50% of homicides go unsolved, a number that Mike Gatto says is too high. “Many family members out there are just like me: waiting for answers. Perhaps by reading about what my family went through, the public can better understand the needs of victims.” 

The murder of Joseph Gatto remains unsolved. Mike Gatto’s book details not only the major theories and clues, but also the special values that his father’s Italian heritage instilled in him. “Those values make me seek to honor his legacy.”