Murder of Paul Castellano outside Sparks Steak House

On December 16, 1985, Gambino crime family boss Paul Castellano and his underboss Thomas Bilotti were shot and killed outside Sparks Steak House. The killings occurred as Castellano arrived for dinner; the murders marked a major turning point in New York organized crime and preceded John Gotti's rise to boss. The incident is widely attributed to a plot orchestrated by rivals within the Gambino family. Several participants were later prosecuted in connection with the crime.