NEW YORK — The co-owner of New York City’s iconic pizzeria L&B Spumoni Gardens was shot and killed in Brooklyn Thursday night.
Louis Barbati, 61, was found dead just after 7 p.m. in the backyard of his home at 12th Avenue and 76th Street, in the Dyker Heights section.
Sources told WPIX the deceased was found with two gunshot wounds to his torso. He was a co-owner of L&B Spumoni Gardens.
Police continue to search for the gunman; no arrests have been made.
It is not yet known what led to the shooting.
L&B Spumoni Gardens is a pizzeria located in Gravesend and is known for its Sicilian pizza and ices. Ludovico Barbati started the iconic pizzeria after he moved to the United States from Italy and learned how to make pizza in a garage on West 8th Street, Brooklyn, according to their website.
He sold his pizza products using a horse and wagon up and down the streets of Gravesend and Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
In 1939, Ludovico, Sr. purchased vacant property on 86th Street in Brooklyn, and begin making his Spumoni in his new factory, then built an area outside where customers could eat while he continued to bake.
In the mid 1950s, L&B Spumoni Gardens built the second of the now three buildings, which is now the pizzeria, selling famous thick Sicilian pies, as well as regular round pies.
It has been featured on the show Man v. Food and NY Eater critic Robert Sietsema considers L&B Spumoni Gardens a must-try Italian American restaurant in Brooklyn.
A police investigation is ongoing.
