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Events on December 16 in history

Gambino crime family
1985Dec, 16

Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti are shot dead on the orders of John Gotti, who assumes leadership of New York's Gambino crime family.

Thomas "Tommy" Bilotti (March 23, 1940 December 16, 1985) was an American mobster with the Gambino crime family who served as underboss for two weeks. It was this promotion that helped trigger the 1985 assassination of Gambino boss Paul Castellano; Bilotti would end up killed as well as part of the assassination.

Constantino Paul Castellano (Italian: [kastelˈlaːno]; June 26, 1915 – December 16, 1985), was an American crime boss who succeeded Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family. Castellano was killed in an unsanctioned hit on December 16, 1985, ordered by John Gotti, who subsequently became boss.

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Events on 1985

  • 10Jan

    Daniel Ortega

    Sandinista Daniel Ortega becomes president of Nicaragua and vows to continue the transformation to socialism and alliance with the Soviet Union and Cuba; American policy continues to support the Contras in their revolt against the Nicaraguan government.
  • 13May

    Philadelphia

    Police release a bomb on MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia to end a stand-off, killing six adults and five children, and destroying the homes of 250 city residents.
  • 25May

    Tropical cyclone

    Bangladesh is hit by a tropical cyclone and storm surge, which kills approximately 10,000 people.
  • 6Jun

    Auschwitz concentration camp

    The grave of "Wolfgang Gerhard" is opened in Embu, Brazil; the exhumed remains are later proven to be those of Josef Mengele, Auschwitz's "Angel of Death"; Mengele is thought to have drowned while swimming in February 1979.
  • 13Sep

    Super Mario

    Super Mario Bros. is released in Japan for the NES, which starts the Super Mario series of platforming games.