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07/29/1976 • 4 views

Son of Sam shootings terrorize New York City

Nighttime street in 1970s New York City: a parked car near a sidewalk under sodium streetlights, a police cruiser with rooftop light, and onlookers kept at a distance.

Beginning July 29, 1976, a series of nighttime shootings by an assailant dubbed the "Son of Sam" plunged New York City into fear, initiating a multi-year manhunt that would culminate in the arrest of David Berkowitz in 1977.

On the night of July 29, 1976, a shotgun blast wounded two young people sitting in a parked car in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn. Over the following year, a pattern emerged: late-night attacks on couples sitting in parked cars and on lone women in public places. The assailant left letters and taunting messages for police and newspapers and became popularly known as the "Son of Sam." The shootings generated widespread fear, altered nighttime habits across the city, and strained the resources of the New York Police Department.

Investigators faced a challenging case. Ballistics and witness descriptions provided some leads, but the gunman’s attacks appeared random and sometimes opportunistic, complicating efforts to predict or prevent further assaults. The press attention intensified public anxiety; morale among residents fell as people avoided driving at night, changed dating practices, and increased security measures around homes and cars.

Police investigative tactics included stakeouts, canvassing neighborhoods, and following up on tips from a frightened public. The case also saw controversial elements: sensational media coverage, rumors and false leads, and scrutiny of police methods. During the manhunt, authorities at times focused on suspects who later proved unrelated to the shootings, highlighting the difficulties of investigating a serial shooter in a densely populated city.

The shootings continued sporadically through 1976 into 1977, with notable attacks causing fatalities and severe injuries. In August 1977, after extensive investigation, the NYPD arrested David Berkowitz, a 24-year-old postal worker. Berkowitz eventually confessed to the string of shootings attributed to the Son of Sam, pleading guilty to multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. In court he was sentenced to consecutive prison terms totaling 365 years.

The Son of Sam case had lasting impacts beyond the immediate criminal prosecution. It exposed vulnerabilities in urban public safety and influenced policing strategies for serial violent crime. The case also prompted public discussion about media responsibility when reporting on active serial offenders and led to legislative efforts addressing the publicity rights of criminals; New York later enacted laws to prevent convicted offenders from profiting from publications that capitalize on their crimes.

While Berkowitz’s guilt in the series of attacks he confessed to is established by court records and his own admissions, aspects of the broader saga—such as media reporting and some conspiracy theories—remain subjects of debate and scrutiny. The Son of Sam murders remain a notable and traumatic chapter in New York City’s modern history, remembered for the fear they instilled and for the investigative efforts that ultimately brought the attacks to an end.

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