On March 12, 1909, after arriving in Palermo, Sicily, Petrosino was invited to a night time rendezvous in the city's Piazza Marina in order to receive information about the Mafia. While waiting for his "informant", Petrosino was shot in the face by two assailants. It was reported that Petrosino was able to fire off one shot in their direction, but was bleeding profusely and fell to the ground. An Italian sailor heard the shots and rushed to his aid, but it was too late.