By: Hal C Clarke

The woman caught in the middle of a now-infamous Gotti family street brawl has been identified as 60-year-old Cathy Gabrielli of Howard Beach – a grandmother who found herself trying to break up a violent confrontation between her son and two grandsons of the late mob boss John Gotti.

According to the New York Post, which exclusively reported the story, Gabrielli attempted to intervene as her son Gino was attacked outside their home on June 2 by John Gotti III and his younger brother Frankie, both sons of reputed mob figure Peter Gotti. What began as a family dispute exploded into a chaotic scene, complete with shouted insults, swinging fists, and a grandmother trying to restore order.

Gabrielli was reportedly struck in the arm by one of John’s wild punches during the altercation. Her son Gino, 32, told the Post that she was only trying to pull her son’s alleged attackers off of him when she was accidentally hit. “She tried to push John off,” Gino recalled. “Then he hit her – and that’s when the police ran in and broke it up.”

The scene unfolded quickly, with Gino and his mother arriving in a white Mercedes SUV just as the confrontation erupted. A crowd of officers and witnesses stood by as the fight escalated. Gino said Peter Gotti, father to the Gotti brothers, was present but made no attempt to de-escalate the violence.

“He was just standing there watching it,” Gino said.

As the Post reported, the tension appears rooted in a tangled web of family grievances, including a rental dispute involving Gino’s grandfather, allegations of infidelity, and a botched attempt by Gino to collect what he claims was back rent owed by John and his sister Eleanor. A criminal complaint claims Gino illegally entered their Jamaica apartment and stole $3,000 in cash along with other personal items – an accusation Gino denies, saying he only took money owed to his grandfather.

Both John Gotti III, 31, and Frankie Gotti, 27, have been charged with third-degree attempted assault and harassment. They’ve pleaded not guilty and are due back in court on August 7, according to the Post.

While the drama has all the hallmarks of a real-life mob movie – including family betrayal, alleged vandalism at a Gotti-run tattoo parlor, and violent outbursts – there are also moments of bitter irony. Gino admitted to smashing display cases at one of John’s tattoo shops in retaliation. He also claimed the Gotti brothers had previously assaulted his 66-year-old father over a disagreement about seeing his granddaughter.

“I lost it,” Gino said of that incident. “If you have a problem with me, you confront me – not my father.”

When asked about the allegations, Frankie Gotti’s attorney, Gerard Marrone, told the Post simply, “Who cares.” John Gotti III’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

As the case heads back to court, it remains unclear what will come of the criminal charges – but the Post’s exclusive reporting paints a picture of a deeply fractured family, where long-simmering tensions have finally erupted into public view.