Long Island 'up-from-the-streets wise guy' who owns a CASTLE rushed to hospital by his daughter after she saw him shot through the eye by masked gunman

  • Long Island hotelier Gary Melius, 69, shot in the head outside his $30 million Oheka Castle on Monday
  • Shot by a masked gunman through the eye at around 12.30pm as he walked through the parking lot
  • His daughter Kelly Meloius discovered him and rushed him to hospital
  • The Melius family live on the sprawling estate
  • Currently in a stable condition in hospital surrounded by his family
  • Police sources have speculated the attack could have been an assassination attempt
  • Oheka Castle has hosted the wedding of disgraced former New York mayoral hopeful Anthony Weiner
  • Former US Senator Alfonse D'Amato said that the shooting of his friend was an 'assassination' not a robbery

By Associated Press and Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 15:55 EST, 24 February 2014 | UPDATED: 01:46 EST, 25 February 2014


Political power-broker, Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle, was shot in the head by a masked gunman on Monday afternoon in the grounds of the famed Long Island hotel.

The gunman shot Melius, 69, through the eye as he walked from the castle to his car in what police are describing as a botched attempt on the multi-millionaire hotelier's life.

Melius was transported to North Shore hosptial in Manhassett where he is in currently in a stable condition and authorities are now examining surveillance footage from the Gilded Age estate on Long Island's Gold Coast that has witnessed the wedding of disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner and closing scenes of Orson Welles movie, Citizen Kane.

Shot: Property developer Gary Melius with Debbie Gibson attend the 2nd Annual Gibson Girl Foundation Benefit at Oheka Castle on May 21, 2012 in Huntington, New York. The Long Island hotelier was shot by a masked gunman on the grounds of the castle on Monday afternoon

Shot: Property developer Gary Melius with Debbie Gibson attend the 2nd Annual Gibson Girl Foundation Benefit at Oheka Castle on May 21, 2012 in Huntington, New York. The Long Island hotelier was shot by a masked gunman on the grounds of the castle on Monday afternoon

Suffolk County police said that they responded to a 911 call from Gary Melius's daughter at around 12.30pm.

Kelly Melius rushed her father to hospital in the immediate aftermath of the shooting herself.

Gary Melius was in surgery at a local hospital, and had been conscious and alert before going in, said Suffolk County Detective Sgt. John O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan said a call about shots fired came in around 12:30 p.m., and when officers arrived at the scene, they learned Melius had been taken to the hospital by his daughter..

Discovery: Gary Melius was found shot in the parking lot of his Oheka Castle by his daughter Kelly Melius - (pictured) who rushed him to hospital herself

Discovery: Gary Melius was found shot in the parking lot of his Oheka Castle by his daughter Kelly Melius - (pictured) who rushed him to hospital herself

He said that it does not appear to be an accidental shooting, but that neither the shooter nor a motive has been identified.

Last year, Melius was part of a controversy that resulted in the ouster of then-Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale over the arrest of a witness in an election lawsuit.

The district attorney found that Dale had instructed officers to arrest a 29-year-old Roosevelt man, who had testified in an unrelated case that he had been paid to collect signatures for a third-party candidate.

Melius, a supporter of the third-party candidate, then contacted Dale seeking to have the young man investigated.

The young man was arrested on an outstanding warrant while riding a county bus on October 5th.

An investigation by the Nassau County district attorney found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing but raised questions about the ethics of Dale's actions, leading to his resignation.

Melius was "alert and conscious and cracking jokes' before going into surgery, said Sgt. John O'Sullivan.

His close friend, former US Senator Alfonse D'Amato rushed to his bedside, later tweeting 'Friends, thank you for your kind words. Please keep my dear friend Gary Melius in your prayers.'

D'Amato was waiting to meet D'Amato for a meal at a local steakhouse when he was informed of his friends shooting.

'It was not a robbery,' D'Amato said after leaving Melius' bedside according to Newsday.

'It was an attempt at assassination. He was at the Castle, outside. Nobody put a gun to him or said, 'We want your money.' They just shot him. The guy had a mask on.'

Shot: A man identified as Gary Melius was shot in front of Oheka Castleon New York's Long Island

Shot: A man identified as Gary Melius was shot in front of Oheka Castleon New York's Long Island

Indeed, investigators are now examining Melius' political dealings in the hope of finding any clues to enemies who would want him dead.

Baffled friends have said that they are holding out hope that security footage will lead them to the culprit.

'I know that they have video,' said Steve Schlesinger, chief counsel for the Democratic Party on Long Island and a close friend of Mr. Melius. 'But I have no idea what that video shows yet.'

Indeed, police have said that they do not believe the shooting was random.

 

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'We have been racking our brains,' said Schlesinger to the New York Times. 'We can’t come up with anyone.'

A donor to both Democrat and Republican parties, Melius has contributed millions to charity.

Born in Queens, New York City, Melius began his career as a plumber, before getting himself into construction and property.

Becoming successful, Melius made a move for Oheka in the mid-1980s.

Melius lives on the sprawling estate along with his wife Pam and daughter Kelly and purchased the castle in 1984 for $1.5 million.

Celebrity wedding: Anthony Weiner and his wife Huma Abedin stroll through the trees at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York, on their wedding day in July 2010 - which was overseen by former president Bill Clinton

Celebrity wedding: Anthony Weiner and his wife Huma Abedin stroll through the trees at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York, on their wedding day in July 2010 - which was overseen by former president Bill Clinton

He sold it a few years later for $30 million but then regained ownership in 2003 - paying the same price.

In 2012, Melius fell into more financial trouble and was forced to refinance his mortgage of $27.9 million, though he told The Wall Street Journal at the time that business at Oheka was 'steady.'

Able to attract the great and good of Long Island to his lavish hotel, Melius hosts poker games on the property - attended by guests such as former United States Senator Alfonse M. D’Amato.

'What Gary Melius created at Oheka Castle is a classic Gold Coast environment for virtually every boldface name who walks on Long Island,' said Gary Lewi, the former press secretary for Mr. D’Amato to the New York Times.

'Literally, people from all sides of the political spectrum have gone through the doors to either share a meal, smoke a cigar, play a game of poker and leave their differences outside. He has created a gilded, neutral ground for people.'

Described as an 'up from-the-streets-guy', Melius' shooting has sent ripples through the Long Island political establishment.

Melius is almost as well known for his involvement with the movers-and-shakers in politics as he is for Oheka.

He crosses the partisan divide to boast friendships with Republican Congressman Peter King and Democratic Congressman Steve Israel - both of whom live on Long Island.

Fateful phone call: Gary Melius telephoned Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale about ex-Freeport Mayor, Andrew Hardwick (left) - a personal friend, who wanted to file perjury charges against someone who alleged he had comes across his election petition signatures fraudulently
Fateful phone call: Gary Melius telephoned Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale about ex-Freeport Mayor, Andrew Hardwick (left) - a personal friend, who wanted to file perjury charges against someone who alleged he had comes across his election petition signatures fraudulently. This attracted the attention of Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice (right)

Fateful phone call: Gary Melius telephoned  Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale about ex-Freeport Mayor, Andrew Hardwick (left) - a personal friend, who wanted to file perjury charges against someone who alleged he had comes across his election petition signatures fraudulently. This attracted the attention of Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice

Friends in high places: Gary Melius is friends with Republican Congressman Peter King
Friends in high places: Gary Melius is friends with Republican Congressman Peter King (left) and Democratic Congressman Steve Israel (right)

Friends in high places: Gary Melius is friends with Republican Congressman Peter King (left) and Democratic Congressman Steve Israel (right)

Built to resemble a French chateau, the 127-room Oheka Castle was one of America's biggest private homes when built for financier Otto Hermann Kahn in 1919, according to its website.

'At the time of its construction, the French-style chateau was, and still is today, the second-largest private residence ever built in America,' according to a website for the estate.

It became a hotel that has hosted the weddings of the well-known. Kevin Jonas of the Jonas Brothers married Danielle Deleasa there in 2009.

Former President Bill Clinton presided over the wedding of then-Rep. Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin, a close aide to then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in 2010.

Oheka Castle also been seen as a backdrop in a number of movies, television shows and magazine photo shoots, and it has been used for high-profile political events and fundraisers.

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He is not a 'wise guy'. What a bunch of idiots DM to write that. As always, you need to get your stories strait.

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Dodgy

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Come from the right side of the fence and you're a Wise-Guy NOT a thug or a gangster! Amazing

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Calling someone a "wise guy" implies they are a mob foot soldier.

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Amazing I see this via London! I once met Mr. Melius at a party in the 80s when he had just bought the famous castle. Hope he is OK and they get whoever was responsible. This place was huge and needed so much work as it was a former military academy for a while that had been left trashed, then it went through a bout as a designer showhouse, and also a venue for antique shows, etc.

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Oheka was a mess and on the verge of being condemned - Melius stepped in and saved it. He invited everyone he knew to it - I remember meeting his hairdresser and insurance agent there for a wonderful party. I can't speak to who he is now, but I know that saving the old Otto Kahn estate was a wonderful thing.

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Spot on, mate. I went on a tour a couple years ago out of curiousity and hard to believe that it was built as a private residence originally - so huge and ahead of its time in re: fireproof construction. Hope Melius recovers. Cheers.

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too close to the sun

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I find it odd the daughter rushed him to the hospital rather than call an ambulance. But I guess waiting for the ambulance would take longer.....maybe she saved his life by driving.

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A "masked gunman?" Sure.

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WOW, that is a Royal Pain

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