David Berkowitz

David Berkowitz is an American serial killer who murdered six people in New York City in 1976 and 1977. Known as the Son of Sam, he was arrested in 1977 and sentenced to prison.

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Son of Sam murders: A series of shootings in New York City in 1976 and 1977 that killed six people and wounded seven. Berkowitz committed these attacks, which gave him the name Son of Sam.
Son of Sam task force: The New York City police unit assembled to investigate the Son of Sam shootings. Its coordinated work connected evidence across attacks and pursued the killer's letters.
Donna Lauria: A New York City nursing student killed in the first commonly attributed Son of Sam shooting in July 1976. Her death marked the beginning of the attacks attributed to Berkowitz.
Son of Sam law: A New York law designed to prevent convicted criminals from profiting from accounts of their crimes. The law took its name from Berkowitz and the media market surrounding his case.
Son of Sam letters: Letters sent by the Son of Sam killer to police and newspapers during the investigation. Their taunts and claims became central to the case's public identity.
Ballistics: The study of projectiles and firearms, including the comparison of bullets and cartridge cases. Firearms evidence linked shootings to the same weapon.
Alexander Esau: A teenager killed alongside Donna Lauria in the first commonly attributed Son of Sam shooting. He was one of the six people murdered in the series.
Crime media: News and entertainment that report on or dramatize crime and criminal justice. The case became a major example of sensational crime coverage.
New York City serial killer panic: A period of widespread fear in New York City during the 1976–1977 Son of Sam attacks. The attacks prompted intense public anxiety and a large police investigation.
Forensic document examination: The examination of documents to assess authorship, handwriting, or other forensic characteristics. Investigators used the Son of Sam letters as evidence in tracing the suspect.