Suspect arrested in McDonald's drive-thru slaying of reputed mobster

A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting at a Bronx McDonald's last Thursday.

The victim, 71-year-old Sylvester Zottola, was found dead at the Webster Avenue McDonald's drive-thru with gunshot wounds to the head and body. He was killed while ordering food. Zottola was a reputed associate of the Bonanno crime family.

Court papers and sources say arrested suspect Bushawn Shelton, also known as "Shelz," conspired to kill Zottola.

The FBI investigation says Shelton has been involved in multiple acts of violence. Aside from the drive-thru slaying, documents also mention a cooperating witness who said that in March or April, Shelton offered money to kill who was believed to be Zottola and another Zottola family member.

As News 12 has reported, the killing came months after Zottola's son Salvatore survived an attack at their Throgs Neck home. It happened about a year after another attempt on Zottola's life was made miles from the home.

Experts say the Zottolas have connections to the Bonanno crime family, considered one of the five families of New York with ties dating back to the 1880s.

In January, federal authorities took down the acting boss of the family, along with nine others. They were charged with racketeering, loan sharking and conspiracy to commit murder.