Police have a 24-year-old suspect in custody in the slaying of reputed Mafia boss Francesco "Franky Boy" Cali in New York City.

Key points: Police say Mr Cali's killing was not a "random act" of violence

Police say Mr Cali's killing was not a "random act" of violence Detectives say surveillance footage showed a man deliberately crash his car possibly to lure Mr Cali onto the street

Detectives say surveillance footage showed a man deliberately crash his car possibly to lure Mr Cali onto the street Mr Cali was allegedly the head of the Gambino Mafia family

The 53-year-old Mr Cali, who was shot to death on Wednesday outside his Staten Island home, was allegedly the head of the Gambino family, one of the five Italian-American Mafia families that have historically dominated organised crime in New York and New Jersey.

Police said Frank Cali was shot 10 times in the attack. ( Supplied )

Police apprehended Anthony Comello in New Jersey and expect to charge him with murdering Mr Cali, the New York Police Department's chief of detectives Dermot Shea told a news conference.

"This is far from over. We are at the beginning stages of this investigation," Mr Shea said.

"We do not believe this was a random act.

"When you look at the incident that took place between Mr Comello and Mr Cali, certainly we're looking — it would be irresponsible if we weren't looking — to keep the families involved in this protected [and] safe.

"We intend to do that. But beyond that, we we don't see any additional random acts occurring on Staten Island."

Mr Shea said the reputed mob boss was shot ten times.

Surveillance video of the killing showed a man, allegedly Mr Comello, crash his car into Mr Cali's parked SUV, drawing Mr Cali outside in what might have been a ploy to lure him out of the house, Mr Shea said.

American broadcaster ABC News reported that the two men spoke and shook hands before the suspect pulled out a gun.

Mr Shea declined to say if Mr Comello had a criminal record, but said he had "crossed paths" with the NYPD.

Mr Comello's truck was issued a parking summons in Staten Island on the day of Cali's murder, Mr Shea said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 32 seconds 32 s Gambino crime family kingpin shot dead in front of New York home

AP/ Reuters