On the evening of December 16, 1985, 70-year-old Paul Castellano, head of the Gambino crime family, was gunned down as he arrived at Sparks Steak House in Midtown Manhattan. Castellano and his underboss, Thomas Bilotti, were stepping out of a black Lincoln at about 5:26 p.m. when a group of gunmen in trench coats and Russian-style hats ran up and opened fire. Castellano was hit multiple times, including a fatal shot to the head; Bilotti was killed as he exited the driver’s side. The gunmen dispersed into the holiday crowds within moments.

The assassination is described as a carefully orchestrated coup led by capo John Gotti, who, along with Salvatore Sammy the Bull Gravano, watched from a car across the street and later drove by to view the bodies. Motives cited include resentment over Castellano’s focus on white-collar businesses, his ban on made members dealing drugs, and the snub of failing to attend Aniello Dellacroce’s funeral, followed by appointing Bilotti as underboss.

John Gotti went on to seize control of the Gambino family. In later prosecutions Gotti and Gravano were arrested on racketeering charges; at Gotti’s 1992 trial Gravano testified about the murder and a jury convicted Gotti, who received life without parole.