Tieri was 76 years old then, so I don't know that the theory that he did it all on his own holds up too good, although he may well have initiated it, I still believe it was a top brass Genovese plot.

It made sense for them too, the Genovese knew they couldn't move in on the Bruno family and its prized north jersey territory because of its alignment with the Gambinos, and the fact that Caponigro had a very strong presence there which made his elimination a dangerous proposition. Extremely cunning plan and it worked to a tee.