A 1999 shooting in Warsaw’s Gama restaurant, which left five gangsters dead, has been closed due to insufficient evidence, TVP Info reports.
The 1999 Gama Restaurant Shooting
The incident occurred on March 31, 1999, at the Gama restaurant located at the intersection of Wolska and Staszica streets in Warsaw. According to “Wyborcza,” a silver Polonez parked near the restaurant, and three masked men exited the vehicle armed with a double-barreled shotgun, a machine gun, and a pistol.
The men opened fire on a table near the window, killing five gangsters affiliated with the Wołomin group: Marian K. (alias Maniek or Klepak), Ludwik A. (alias Lutek), Olgierd W. (alias Łysy), Mariusz Ł. (alias Piguła), and Piotr Ś. (alias Kurczak). The attackers fled towards the Vistula River shortly after the shooting.
Unsolved Crime and Investigation
According to Piotr Machajski writing for Wyborcza.pl in 2016, the Gama massacre remains the deadliest single incident in Warsaw’s gangster history, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear.
The Mazowiecki Wydział Zamiejscowy Departamentu do Spraw Przestępczości Zorganizowanej i Korupcji Prokuratury Krajowej in Warsaw had been investigating the deaths for nearly ten years. TVP Info reported that the investigation has now been closed.
Lack of Evidence Leads to Closure
“Unfortunately, the collected materials are too weak to bring charges against anyone. There is no material evidence such as DNA traces, fingerprints of the perpetrators, or surveillance footage. Remember, these were the 1990s, and investigative capabilities were very different than they are today,” a source familiar with the case told TVP Info.
Limited Leads and Witness Testimony
Journalists unofficially learned that investigators had leads regarding potential masterminds, but these were based on hearsay and were inconsistent. Investigators also obtained mobile phone connection data, but lacked access to cell tower information needed to pinpoint locations.
Public Reaction and Initial Reports
Warsaw’s then-president, Paweł Piskorski, described the shooting as “something bordering on terrorism.” “Wyborcza” reported that the shooting also caused fear among residents of Staszica Street, with some fearing an uprising. No bystanders were injured.
A reporter for “Wyborcza” observed a man talking on the phone at the scene, stating, “Marian’s car is here. He’s lying inside.”