Provenzano participated in the Viale Lazio massacre on 10 December 1969 : the killing of Michele Cavataio for his role in the First Mafia War . The attack nearly went wrong , but Cavataio was able to shoot and kill Calogero Bagarella ( an elder brother of Leoluca Bagarella the brother-in-law of Totò Riina ) . According to legend , Provenzano saved the situation with his Beretta 38/A submachine gun and earned himself a reputation as a Mafia killer with the attack . However , according to Gaetano Grado , one of the participants who turned government witness later , it was Provenzano who messed up the attack , shooting too early
Viale Lazio massacre
Viale Lazio massacre
Bernardo Provenzano