Son of Sam Killer David Berkowitz: 48 years since NYC arrest ends deadly shooting Spree

Forty-eight years ago, police captured David Berkowitz, the man who terrorized New York City as the “Son of Sam.” His arrest on August 10, 1977, ended a series of shootings that spanned multiple boroughs and left a lasting impact on the city.

Arrest That Ended a Deadly Spree

David Berkowitz committed a series of shootings between April 1976 and July 1977. He targeted young women and couples, often attacking them in cars with a .44-caliber Bulldog revolver. His final victim, Stacy Moskowitz, was killed on July 31, 1977.

Police traced Berkowitz through a parking ticket issued near the last crime scene. He was arrested at his Yonkers apartment. Upon arrest, he identified himself to officers, asking, “What took you so long?”


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Conviction and Sentencing

In June 1978, Berkowitz was convicted of eight shootings. He was sentenced to six consecutive life terms. He has been incarcerated at Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Wallkill since the age of 24.

Pattern of Attacks and Communications

Berkowitz often left handwritten notes at crime scenes or sent letters to police and journalists. In one message left near victims Alexander Esau and Valentina Suriani in April 1977, he wrote, “I am a monster. I am the Son of Sam.”

His nickname came from a claim in one letter about his neighbor’s dog, Sam, which he said gave him orders. These notes contributed to public fear and intense media coverage during the investigation.

Police Response and Manhunt

The NYPD formed a task force of 200 officers to capture the shooter. Many worked undercover in the streets at night in hopes of catching him during an attack. The shootings occurred in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens, forcing law enforcement to spread resources across multiple boroughs.

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Life in Prison and Religious Conversion

Since becoming eligible for parole in 2002, Berkowitz has applied every two years and has been denied 12 times, most recently in May 2024. Now 72, Berkowitz claims to have embraced Christianity.

In a 2023 interview, he described himself as a “father figure” to inmates and compared his writings to Anne Frank’s diary, expressing a desire to inspire others through messages of faith.

Continued Public Interest

The “Son of Sam” case remains a subject of documentaries and books. Netflix’s series Conversations With a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes examines the case with interviews from victims’ families and previously unreleased recordings of a 1980 jailhouse interview.

FAQs

How many people did David Berkowitz kill during the Son of Sam shootings?
David Berkowitz killed six people and injured seven others between April 1976 and July 1977 in New York City.

Where is David Berkowitz now?
David Berkowitz is serving six consecutive life sentences at Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Wallkill, New York.