This is considered the first shooting of the Son of sam. It occured in the Pelham area in the bronx. Donna Lauira and Jody Valenti were parked in an Oldsmobile after dining at the Peach Tree. The Peach Tree was a new age Rochelle discoteque. As Donna Lauria was about to leave the car she noticed a man walking towards her. He was carrying a paper bag. As she noticed this she remarked and said “Now what is this?”As the man got closer he pulled an apparent gun out of the paper bag. This gun being a pistol. Then he crouched and with both of his hands one being on his elbow and the other taking aim, but with both hands on the gun, took aim and shot at them. Lauria was struck with one bullet and killed almost instantly. Valenti was only shot in the thigh. The shooter shot three times. The third shot missed both of the women and he quickly walked away. Description from Jody Valenti of suspect:
She said that he looked to be a white male in his thirties. Height 5 feet 8 inches tall. Weight 200 pounds. Hair short, dark and curly in a “mod” style. This is similar to Donna Laurias fathers description of a man he saw cruising in a yellow car parked nearby in his neighborhood. Neighbors also revealed a similar description of a car nearby the crimescene hours before the shooting began.
Police Sketch
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