(L.A.) Massimo Barbagallo, 49, Died in Jail
Case Number: 2023-00419
Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 49-year-old Caucasian male that occurred in a jail.
The coroner’s office has identified the man as Massimo Barbagallo.
Brown hair. Brown eyes. Height: 5’8″. Weight: 140 lbs.
Manner of Death: Suicide
Cause of Death: Multiple Blunt Force Injuries
RIP MASSIMO BARBAGALLO (May 6, 1973 – January 10, 2023)
Formal pronouncement of death was made on Tuesday at 5:07 p.m.
Authorities say he died in a common area, specifically a hallway.
North County Correctional Facility (NCCF) is run by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Located approximately 40 miles (64 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, it is one of four jails located within the Pitchess Detention Center (named after former Sheriff Peter J. Pitchess), in Castaic, California.
Barbagallo was arrested in Temple City on July 15, 2019.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Barbagallo with murder and a special allegation of using a handgun.
He pleaded not guilty to killing of his next-door neighbor amid a months-long feud between the two neighbors.
Christopher Chaney, Barbagallo’s defense attorney, said his client was acting in self-defense in the shooting.
The person killed was Cristian Jonathan Alarcon, 26, of Temple City.
Authorities said Alarcon and Barbagallo were embroiled in an argument before the shooting on July 15. Prosecutors allege Barbagallo fired at Alarcon at close range. Alarcon was unarmed when he was shot.
There were prior incidents between the two men.
Chaney said it was those previous incidents that gave his client reason to fear for his safety.
The incidents prompted Barabagallo to install security cameras at his house, Chaney said. The argument and shooting took place while he was setting up the cameras.