It looks like the last Gambino who was shot was John "Handsome Jack" Giordano back in 1995. He survived the attack though.

This is from Dailey News, dated April 12, 1995


Two Motives Considered in Shooting of Reputed Mobster

By SELWYN RAAB
Published: April 12, 1995


Correction Appended

Inside the Gambino crime family, investigators say, there were ample reasons to call him "Handsome Jack" and "the Actor."

In the treacherous world of the Mafia, John P. Giordano was looked upon as a high-ranking mobster in the Gambino crime family without an enemy in the underworld. His reputation reportedly was that of an affable capo or captain, who raked in millions of dollars for the family and who was a steadfast supporter of the family's imprisoned boss, John Gotti.

But on Monday night, Mr. Giordano was shot and severely wounded in an ambush on the East Side that investigators say may have stemmed from one of the rare times he angered fellow Mafiosi. Law enforcement officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that one of the prime motives being explored was that Mr. Giordano was marked for assassination because someone believed he had withheld money from a loan-sharking racket.

A 34-year-old man who was stopped while driving alone in the getaway car used in the shooting of Mr. Giordano was being questioned yesterday by detectives. Law enforcement officials said that the man, whom they identified as Gilbert Rodriguez of 2517 Radcliff Avenue, the Bronx, was cooperating in the inquiry, and that he and his family were in protective custody.


A less likely motive, investigators said, was that the shooting was the opening salvo in a power struggle for control of the Gambino family and that dissidents shot Mr. Giordano because of his loyalty to Mr. Gotti and to Mr. Gotti's son, John Gotti Jr. Experts on organized-crime activities said that the Gambino family has been riven by internal dissension since the conviction in 1992 of John Gotti on Federal murder and racketeering charges and his sentence to life imprisonment without parole.

Investigators said that the attempted murder of Mr. Giordano might have been a message to the ruling hierarchy of the family that it was time to appoint a successor to Mr. Gotti. The insurgents, the investigators said, may also want to remove John Gotti Jr. from the acting-boss position he assumed when his father was convicted three years ago.

All murders in a mob family must be sanctioned by the boss or a top leader, and investigators said it was unlikely that John Gotti or his hierarchy would allow the killing of Mr. Giordano.

John Gotti Jr., 31, was promoted by his father to the rank of capo and is the leader of a faction of Young Turks in the family, law-enforcement officials said. His rapid promotions and arrogant display of authority, the officials said, has caused resentment among older members who believe the family's fortunes are slipping because of his inexperience and requests for large shares of the profits from illicit activities.

Law enforcement officials said the shooting of Mr. Giordano had the earmarks of a planned gangland assassination that went awry.

A reason cited by investigators for believing that Mr. Giordano was betrayed by someone in the Gambino family was that the assailant apparently had foreknowledge that he would be at Lenox Hill Hospital on Monday night to visit a friend, Louis DeFazio, a patient at the hospital.

Law enforcement officials said that Mr. DeFazio is a Gambino family associate, someone who works for the organization but is not an inducted member. After spending 20 minutes with Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Giordano left the hospital and was entering his car, a black 1995 Chrysler New Yorker, on East 77th Street near Park Avenue. Police officials said that a cream-colored Cadillac Eldorado with a red roof pulled alongside and at least one gunman opened fire.

Mr. Giordano, the officials said, was hit three times in the chest, with one bullet damaging his spinal column.

Mr. Giordano, 54, of 217 Braisted Avenue, Staten Island, underwent surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital. Jean Brett, a hospital spokeswoman, said yesterday that his condition was stable but would provide no further details.

But Police Department officials said that they had been told by physicians at the hospital that Mr. Giordano is paralyzed below the waist.

The driver of Mr. Giordano's car was identified by detectives as Vincent Conti, a reputed associate in the Gambino family. Mr. Conti was not injured.

Detectives said that Mr. Giordano had $5,000 in cash in his pockets and wallet.

Witnesses, according to detectives, obtained the license-plate number of the fleeing Cadillac and it was stopped by police officers in East Harlem about 10 minutes after the shooting.

The lone occupant of the Cadillac was identified by detectives as Mr. Rodriguez. He was questioned through the night and yesterday by detectives and prosecutors.

Federal and city law-enforcement officials and private experts on organized crime said that Mr. Giordano was recruited into the Gambino family by his uncle, Joseph Armone, who was a capo based in Staten Island and Brooklyn.

He was promoted by Mr. Gotti to take over Mr. Armone's crew, or gang, in the late 1980's after Mr. Armone was convicted on Federal racketeering charges. According to state prosecutors, Mr. Giordano ran gambling and loan-sharking rackets for Mr. Gotti in the city and Nassau County. Authorities in a 1991 indictment said the operations grossed $300 million a year in illiciit bets and loans.

In 1991, Mr. Giordano pleaded guilty in Manhattan State Supreme Court to two misdemeanor charges of promoting gambling, and served eight months of a one-year sentence. He was also convicted in 1991 on state racketeering and gambling charges in Nassau County and sentenced to a prison term of 4 to 12 years.

Mr. Giordano is free on bail while his conviction in Nassau County is being appealed.