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James McBratney

James McBratney (17 November 1941-22 May 1973) was an Irish-American gangster who was involved in the 1972 kidnappings of Emanuel Gambino and Frank Manzo. He shot Gambino's face off, angering his uncle Carlo Gambino, who had McBratney killed by Ralph Galione in 1973.

Biography[]

James McBratney was born in Queens, New York City, New York on 17 November 1941 to Catholic immigrant parents from Northern Ireland. McBratney served time at the Green Haven Correctional Facility after being convicted of armed robbery; he hoped that he could one day amass enough wealth to open his own nightclub. He dealt in armed robbery, kidnapping, and gun running, and McBratney and his kidnapping gang kidnapped Frank Manzo in front of Henry Hill and Jimmy Conway at The Suite restaurant, later ransoming him for $150,000. McBratney was also involved with the kidnapping and murder of Emanuel Gambino, the nephew of Gambino crime family boss Carlo Gambino. In 1973, Carlo Gambino ordered McBratney's killing in revenge for his nephew's death.

Death[]

James McBratney dead

McBratney after being shot

On 22 May 1973, McBratney ate at Snoopy's Bar and Grill in Staten Island. John Gotti, Angelo Ruggiero, and Ralph Galione entered the bar, intending to have McBratney leave the restaurant and head to the parking lot, where he would be executed. Gotti and Ruggiero pretended to be West Side criminals and mutual friends of McBratney, and they struck up a conversation with him. They persuaded him to leave with them, but Galione then appeared, claiming to be an NYPD officer and demanding that McBratney surrender. McBratney doubted the authenticity of Galione's badge and insulted him, leading to Galione shooting him several times with his pistol. He was shot several more times as he lay on the bar's floor, killing him. Galione's sloppy handling of the hit would lead to his own death.

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