May Mob Calendar of Events
May is one of the most historically significant months in organised crime history. From the murder of Big Jim Colosimo that handed Chicago to Al Capone, to the assassination of anti-Mafia judge Giovanni Falcone that shocked Italy and the world — every day of May has a story. Click any date below to read the full account.
Key dates this month: May 2 — Frank Costello assassination attempt | May 11 — Big Jim Colosimo murdered | May 22 — Tony Accardo dies | May 23 — Giovanni Falcone assassinated | May 27 — Georgofili bombing
May in Mob History — Key Events
May 1920 marked one of the most consequential moments in American organised crime history. The murder of Big Jim Colosimo on May 11 removed the one obstacle standing between Johnny Torrio, Al Capone and total control of Chicago. Colosimo had resisted expanding into bootlegging during Prohibition — his death opened the floodgates.
May 1957 brought one of the most brazen assassination attempts in New York mob history when Vincent “The Chin” Gigante shot Frank Costello in the lobby of his own apartment building. The bullet grazed Costello’s skull. He survived, refused to name his attacker, and quietly retired — handing the Genovese family to Vito Genovese.
May 1992 was a devastating month for organised crime enforcement. On May 22, Tony Accardo died peacefully — one of the last of the old guard. Just one day later, on May 23, Judge Giovanni Falcone was blown up on a Sicilian motorway in one of the most shocking political assassinations in post-war European history. His death and that of his colleague Paolo Borsellino two months later became a turning point in Italy’s war against the Sicilian Mafia.
May 1993 saw the Mafia strike again in Italy — the Georgofili bombing on May 27 targeted Florence’s cultural heritage, killing five people and damaging the Uffizi Gallery. It was an act of war against the Italian state that ultimately backfired, turning public opinion decisively against the organisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Mafia on May 11?
On May 11, 1920, Big Jim Colosimo was shot dead in his Chicago restaurant. His murder cleared the way for Al Capone and Johnny Torrio to take control of the Chicago underworld and build the most powerful criminal empire of the Prohibition era.
What happened in the Mafia on May 23?
On May 23, 1992, anti-Mafia judge Giovanni Falcone was assassinated by the Sicilian Mafia in the Capaci bombing near Palermo. Falcone, his wife and three bodyguards were killed. The murder shocked Italy and accelerated the dismantling of the Sicilian Mafia.
What happened in the Mafia on May 2?
On May 2, 1957, Frank Costello survived an assassination attempt when Vincent Gigante shot him in the head in the lobby of his Manhattan apartment building. Costello refused to identify his attacker and shortly afterwards retired from the Genovese family.
What happened in the Mafia on May 22?
On May 22, 1992, Tony Accardo — boss of the Chicago Outfit for decades — died of natural causes aged 86, having never spent a night in prison despite a lifetime of FBI scrutiny.
What happened in the Mafia on May 27?
On May 27, 1993, the Sicilian Mafia detonated a car bomb near the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, killing five people including two children. The Georgofili bombing was ordered by Totò Riina as part of a campaign of terror against the Italian state.
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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