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Police: New Details in Oheka Castle Shooting

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Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius was shot last week by a masked gunman.
Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius was shot last week by a masked gunman.
New details have emerged about the gunman involved in the shooting of Long Island developer Gary Melius outside his Oheka Castle in Huntington, N.Y. , on Monday, February 24. They said they believed the suspect escaped in a car.

Melius underwent surgery on the evening of Wednesday, February 26, at North Shore-Long Island Jewish System, the New York Times reported. He is said to be in stable condition.

The 69-year-old developer was shot in the head by a masked gunman as he pulled his car onto the property. The area also serves as a high-end hotel and catering hall. Sources told the NYT that the attack did not appear to be part of a robbery attempt.

According to the New York Daily News, there is even surveillance video that shows two cars without license plates driving into a parking lot moments before the gunman started firing at Meilus, Newsday reported just days after the shooting.

Citing law enforcement and Nassau government sources, Suffolk County investigators believe the two cars “might have been involved in what appears to be a botched hit,” Newsday said.

Melius is a political donor who has been deeply involved in Long Island politics.

At the time of the attempted murder, Newsday said that Melius was sitting in his Mercedes-Benz in the parking lot of his sprawling Huntington estate.

Security footage reportedly shows a black sedan pulling into the valet area – followed by a Jeep Cherokee. No license plates were visible on either vehicle, Newsday reported. Police believe the shooter was in the Jeep and they have footage of the gunman exiting the Jeep and walking directly to Melius.

Cops believe the black sedan was the lookout car, Newsday’s sources said. It’s not clear how many people were in the Jeep.

Sources told Newsday the suspect fired a round after pressing a gun against Melius’ closed window.

The bullet hit the 69-year-old in the head, sources told Newsday.

But “the kickback must have caused the weapon to jam, because the shooter was seen on the video trying to fix the gun,” Newsday reported.

The shooter reportedly aimed several times at the wounded Melius and pulled the trigger, according to Newsday. Two full rounds were recovered at the scene.

Melius was hospitalized and was in stable condition at North Shore University Hospital.

Suffolk County Police declined to comment on the video surveillance Thursday.

“This is an active, ongoing investigation, we’re not going to be commenting,” said a Suffolk County Police spokeswoman.

According to Newsday, Suffolk Deputy Chief Kevin Fallon said the sources’ account cited by the paper was incorrect.

But he declined to give them specific details, Newsday said.

Police initially believed Melius was shot was he tried to climb into his car and got a lucky break when two bullets missed.

Melius, who was born in Jackson Heights, Queens, has long been involved with the Democratic, Republican and Independence parties, contributing more than $800,000 total to the three parties since 1999, according to state records.

News of the shooting has shocked the real estate community.

“It was inconceivable,” Gary Lewi, former press secretary for Melius associate ex-U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato, told the NYT. “It would be akin to a personality like Robert Moses being gunned down in the parking lot of Jones Beach. It was like, ‘What? That cannot be right.’ ”

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