From what I have read, Wilfred Johnson apparently mentioned John Gotti on the McBratney hit. Johnson was offered protection for his cooperation but Gotti told him nothing would happen to him if he didn't testify. Willie Boy believed him and was then killed.

Turncoats claimed Thomas Pitera and Vincent Giattino were the two shooters in the Wilfred Johnson murder. Pitera was later acquitted of the murder during his 1992 trial.