Gaetano Costa (Italian pronunciation: [ɡaeˈtaːno ˈkɔsta]; Caltanissetta, 1 March 1916 - Palermo, 6 August 1980) was an Italian magistrate killed by the Cosa Nostra.
Chief Prosecutor of Palermo, he was assassinated by the Mafia on 6 August 1980 while browsing books on a stall located on a sidewalk in Via Cavour in Palermo, a few steps from his home. He was hit with three gunshots to his back by two killers on a motorcycle. The murder was ordered by the Mafia clan headed by Salvatore Inzerillo due to Costa signing the arrest orders against boss Rosario Spatola and some of his men while other colleagues of his refused to sign. [1]