New York, NY – A brazen act of violence rocked the city’s underworld last night as Vincent Costello, a rising figure in the Costello crime family, publicly executed Marco “The Hammer” Hernandez, the personal bodyguard of Salvatore Genovese, the notorious leader of the rival Genovese crime family. The event, which unfolded on the rooftop of the Sterling Hotel, has sent shockwaves through the city’s criminal landscape and prompted an immediate increase in police presence across multiple boroughs.

The execution occurred shortly after 10:00 PM. Witnesses report that Hernandez was seen entering the Sterling Hotel, reportedly to meet with Costello. Approximately thirty minutes later, a single gunshot rang out from the rooftop, and Hernandez collapsed to the concrete below. Costello, displaying a chilling composure, calmly surveyed the scene before disappearing into the hotel’s service elevator. No other individuals were harmed during the incident.

“He just… he just stood there,” recounted Sal “Fingers” Moretti, a low-level enforcer for the Moretti family, who was observing the rooftop from a nearby building. “Didn’t even flinch. Just… cold. Like he’d done it a hundred times before.” Moretti added that the entire event lasted less than 60 seconds.

The motive behind the execution remains unclear, although speculation is rampant. Many believe it’s a direct response to a recent, highly publicized dispute between the Costello and Genovese families over control of the city’s lucrative dockside operations. Others suggest it could be a calculated move to consolidate Costello’s power within the city’s criminal hierarchy.

“Costello’s always been a quiet operator,” stated Detective Isabella Rossi, lead investigator on the case, in a brief statement to the press. “But this… this is different. It’s a statement. A clear message to anyone who thinks they can challenge him.”

The NYPD has launched a full-scale investigation, and a citywide manhunt is underway for Costello. The fallout from last night’s events is expected to be significant, with increased tensions and a heightened risk of retaliatory violence in the coming days. The Sterling Hotel has been cordoned off as a crime scene, and investigators are meticulously examining the rooftop for forensic evidence. The city holds its breath, bracing for the next move in this escalating war.