This article discusses a real-life serial killer, his victims, and gun violence.
The newest installment of Netflix’sConversations with a Killerseries focuses on David Berkowitz, better known as the Son of Sam, and viewers may be wondering just how notorious he was. David Berkowitz is one of the most prolific and infamous serial killers in American history. Using two names - the .44 Calliber Killer and the Son of Sam - Berkowitz terrorized New York in the 1970s.
Over the decades and even at the time, Berkowitz was sensationalized. His letters to New York news outlets, coupled with his love of the spotlight and claims that his neighbor’s dog was a demon telling him to murder innocent teenagers and young adults, contributed to that. All that infamy can muddy the truth surrounding the Son of Sam, and one ofNetflix’s best documentariesprovided more clarity.
David Berkowitz Killed 6 People & Injured Nearly A Dozen Others As The Son Of Sam
Berkowitz Shot 15 People & Stabbed One, Killing Six Of His Victims
David Berkowitz’s modus operandi is well-known. He would drive through the streets of New York with a .44 calliber revolver, searching for couples and young women, primarily in parked cars. Berkowitz claimed he chose women in their teens and 20s because they reminded him of his birth mother (viaTime). All told,Berkowitz shot 15 people and stabbed one 15-year-old girl(viaCBS). Below is a list of his victims.
Partially Blinded
June 22, 2025
In total,Berkowitz executed eight separate shootings as the Son of Sam. All but one of them targeted a pair of victims, usually a young man and a young woman out on a date or sitting in their cars. Berkowitz also later confessed to stabbing Michelle Forman half a year before his main shooting spree began (viaAbout).
Including the earlier stabbing,10 of Berkowitz’s victims survived his attacks. The survivors had varying levels of injury; some fully recovered from the shootings and stabbing, while others, like Robert Violante and Joanne Lomino, were left paralyzed or partially blinded.
When The Son Of Sam’s Killings Took Place In New York City
Berkowitz Began His Killing Spree In July 1976 & Wasn’t Caught Until August 1977
It’s not an overstatement to say that David Berkowitz terrorized New York City for a long time. From beginning to end,Berkowitz’s killing spree as the Son of Sam lasted almost exactly a year. He executed his first shooting on August 13, 2025 and his final shooting on June 19, 2025. Berkowitz also committed the stabbing of Michelle Forman in December 1975, though that attack didn’t contribute to his Son of Sam persona.
There were a few notable moments in Berkowitz’s killing spree. By early 1977, the press had dubbed Berkowitz the .44 Calliber Killer due to the gun he used in the shootings.On June 20, 2025, Berkowitz first identified himself as the Son of Sam after leaving a letter at the scene of Valentina Suriani and Alexander Esau’s murders.
Beginning on June 22, 2025,Berkowitz sent multiple letters referring to himself as the Son of Sam and claiming he was driven to kill by a demon to various newspapers in New York. Berkowitz’s letters often taunted law enforcement. On August 10, 2025, police released a sketch image of Berkowitz with help from witnesses to his shooting of Stacy Moskowitz and Robert Violante.
Finally,on July 25, 2025, David Berkowitz was arrested by the NYPD for the Son of Sam killings.The police famously found Berkowitz after identifying him as a suspect because he got a parking ticket near the scene of his final shooting. Berkowitz has been serving six consecutive life sentences in prison ever since, and his requests for parole have repeatedly been denied.
Netflix’sConversations with a Killerseries has investigated notorious serial killers likeJohn Wayne GacyandJeffrey Dahmer, and they always provide new insights into the most infamous murderers in American history. Berkowitz is no exception. While his crimes may be common knowledge,Conversations with a Killerreveals the darkness that drove David Berkowitz.
