Melius owns, lives in and operates the facilities at Oheka Castle, a 109,000-sq.-ft. French style chateau in Huntington that reportedly was used as a setting for the movie Citizen Kane and may have inspired the novel The Great Gatsby. After buying the castle in 1984, Melius embarked on the largest privately-sponsored residential renovation project in U.S. history. He briefly lost the property to Japanese investors in the late 1980s, but re-acquired it during the next decade and turned it into a hotel and wedding venue. (Photo by Kevin Coughlin.)

A native of Jackson Heights, Melius started his career as a plumber before ending up in real estate development. He has been linked to a number of New York political bigwigs, including Senator Alfonse D’Amato and former New York City mayoral hopeful Anthony Weiner.

Police stand in front of Oheka Castle on Long Island after owner Gary Melius has been shot on the premises. In another similarity to the Stark case, Melius has reportedly experienced financial problems recently. In 2012, he came close to losing his castle to foreclosure after being unable to refinance his $27.9 million mortgage, according to The Wall Street Journal.

(Photo by Veronique Louis.)

Suffolk County Police officers surround the car belonging to Gary Melius.

Melius remains in stable condition at North Shore-LIJ Hospital after undergoing surgery. He is expected to survive.

(Photo by Veronique Louis.)

Oheka Castle was built in 1919 by financier Otto Kahn. The 27-room property got its name from Kahn's initials--Otto Hermann Kahn. The castle is listed on the U.S. Register of Historic Places.