Assassination of Paul Castellano outside Sparks Steak House

On December 16, 1985, Gambino crime family boss Paul Castellano and his aide Thomas Bilotti were shot and killed outside Sparks Steak House in Midtown Manhattan. The murders took place on the restaurant's sidewalk and rapidly shifted leadership of the Gambino family. The hit is widely attributed to a power struggle that led to John Gotti becoming the family's boss. The incident is a well-documented turning point in New York organized-crime history.