Gary Melius shooting still shrouded in mystery 4 years later
<p>It’s been nearly four years since someone shot Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius in the face, and the assassination attempt is still shrouded in mystery.</p>
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Feb 23, 2018, 9:29 PM
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Updated 2,465 days ago
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It’s been nearly four years since someone shot Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius in the face, and the assassination attempt is still shrouded in mystery.
“It’s a puzzle,” says Newsday’s Sandra Peddie. “Four years ago, he's shot in the middle of the day, and it’s captured on video, and there's no arrest.”
Peddie and a team of reporters at Newsday worked extensively to report on the life and times of Melius, a political power broker who hosted lavish fundraisers and poker nights with elected officials at his vintage castle. But no one has been able to answer who shot Gary Melius.
READ MORE AT NEWSDAY - Pathway to power: Gary Melius' rise through Long Island's cozy political system
WATCH MORE - Newsday reporter discusses assassination attempt of Oheka Castle owner 4 years later?
WATCH MORE - Newsday reporter discusses assassination attempt of Oheka Castle owner 4 years later?
“Gary Melius has a vast and complicated business enterprise, so that means there are a lot of places to look,” says Peddie.
Was it a former business partner or rival? A family member? One law enforcement official told Newsday last year that, "simply put, there are so many suspects." Melius offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
In 2016, then-Suffolk Police Commissioner Tim Sini released surveillance video of the shooting. Sini is now the Suffolk district attorney. He declined to speak with News 12 Long Island about the shooting. A spokesperson said the DA is unable to comment on an ongoing investigation. The Suffolk Police Department also declined to comment.
Melius declined a News 12 Long Island request for an interview, but in the past he's told Newsday that he fully cooperated with the investigation, and he blames former Suffolk DA Tom Spota for not solving the shooting.
“Gary Melius criticizes the former district attorney for not releasing the video immediately,” says Peddie.
Newsday will include its entire Melius investigation in Sunday's print edition.
“Gary Melius criticizes the former district attorney for not releasing the video immediately,” says Peddie.
Newsday will include its entire Melius investigation in Sunday's print edition.
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