Historical Events tagged with "urban crime"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Crime & Law

David Berkowitz's First Attack in NYC

July 29th, 1976 48 years ago

David Berkowitz, known as the 'Son of Sam,' committed his first violent act in New York City, resulting in one fatality and serious injuries to another individual. Berkowitz used a .44 caliber revolver to carry out the shooting, targeting two young women who were sitting in a parked car. The police later described the attack as random, as there were no apparent motives behind the shooting. This initial attack marked the beginning of a series of violent crimes that would terrorize the city over the next year, instigating widespread panic and fear amongst residents.

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Crime & Law

Francis Crowley's Apartment Standoff

May 7th, 1931 93 years ago

A tense standoff occurred when criminal Francis Crowley barricaded himself in his fifth-floor apartment on West 91st Street in New York City. Armed with a submachine gun and surrounded by law enforcement, specifically 300 members of the New York Police Department, the situation rapidly escalated. Crowley was wanted for robbery and suspected of murder, leading to the police encircling his location. Negotiations ensued, but the standoff captured public attention due to its dramatic nature and the involvement of such a large police presence.

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