April Mob Calendar of Events
April is the month Joe Masseria was shot dead with Lucky Luciano’s help — ending the Castellammarese War and beginning the modern American Mafia. It is also the month Joey Gallo was murdered on his own birthday, and the birth month of Tony Accardo — the Chicago boss who outlasted them all. Click any date below to read the full account.
Key dates this month: April 7 — Joey Gallo murdered | April 13 — Jimmy Burke dies | April 15 — Joe Masseria killed | April 19 — Vincent Mangano disappears | April 28 — Tony Accardo born
April in Mob History — Key Events
April 15, 1931 was one of the pivotal moments in American Mafia history. Joe Masseria — Joe the Boss, the most powerful gangster in New York — was shot dead at a Coney Island restaurant after a card game with Lucky Luciano. Luciano had conveniently visited the bathroom moments before the gunmen arrived. Masseria’s death ended the Castellammarese War. Within months Luciano would also arrange the murder of Salvatore Maranzano and establish the Commission — the modern American Mafia was complete.
April 7, 1972 saw the birthday murder of Joey Gallo — shot dead at Umberto’s Clam House in Manhattan’s Little Italy just after midnight while celebrating his birthday with his family. Gallo had been a flamboyant and unpredictable figure in the Colombo family who had made powerful enemies. His murder at his own birthday dinner became one of the most talked-about hits in New York mob history.
April 28, 1906 was the birthday of Tony Accardo — Joe Batters, the man Al Capone called the most capable gangster he’d ever known. Accardo ran the Chicago Outfit for decades — sometimes openly, sometimes from the shadows — and died of natural causes in 1992 having never spent a single night in prison. In the brutal, unforgiving world of organised crime, that was the ultimate achievement.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Joe Masseria killed?
Joe Masseria was shot dead on April 15, 1931, at the Nuova Villa Tammaro restaurant in Coney Island. Lucky Luciano had excused himself to use the bathroom moments before the gunmen arrived. His murder ended the Castellammarese War and cleared the way for the modern American Mafia to be established.
When was Joey Gallo killed?
Joey Gallo was shot dead on April 7, 1972, at Umberto’s Clam House in Manhattan’s Little Italy, shortly after midnight while celebrating his birthday. He was 43 years old. His murder became one of the most notorious hits in New York mob history.
When was Tony Accardo born?
Tony Accardo was born on April 28, 1906, in Chicago. Known as Joe Batters, he became the most enduring boss of the Chicago Outfit and uniquely never spent a night in prison despite running organised crime in Chicago for decades. He died of natural causes in 1992 aged 86.
When did Jimmy Burke die?
Jimmy Burke — the real-life inspiration for Robert De Niro’s character in Goodfellas — died on April 13, 1996, in prison from cancer. He was the mastermind of the 1978 Lufthansa heist and responsible for the murders of most of the participants to silence them.
When did Vincent Mangano disappear?
Vincent Mangano disappeared on April 19, 1951, and was never seen again. His brother Philip was found shot dead the same day. It is believed both were killed on Albert Anastasia’s orders. Mangano’s body was never found.
Further Reading — Mob History
Want to go deeper into the stories behind these dates? These are the essential books on organised crime history.
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