Woman Shot by Son of Sam Survivor Confronted by Killer’s Friend

Nearly six decades after being shot by the infamous serial killer David Berkowitz, a woman experienced a disturbing encounter when a man claiming to be Berkowitz’s friend confronted her at a library, defending the murderer’s innocence.

Wendy Savino, then 88, was at Valley Cottage Library in Rockland County when the man, Frank DeGennaro, approached her and insisted Berkowitz had not shot her. “As I was leaving, a man was just standing in my way, staring at me,” she recounted. The man then told her, “David is very upset about what happened to you. He wants to talk to you,” claiming Berkowitz sought to communicate his innocence.

Woman holding a police sketch of a suspect. — Wendy Savino, 88, said she was confronted by a man who claimed to be David Berkowitz’s friend at the library.

In 1976, Savino was shot five times while sitting in her silver Jaguar in the Bronx. She was forced to play dead after the initial attack but was shot twice more and crawled into a restaurant while bleeding heavily. Investigations confirmed she was the first victim in Berkowitz’s series of crimes that terrorized New York City during 1976-77, during which he killed six and wounded eight. Her case was not prosecuted against Berkowitz due to it being beyond the statute of limitations.

Cops reveal Son of Sam's first victim after 48 years. — Last year, NYPD investigators identified Savino as Berkowitz’s earliest victim in 1976.

Savino, a mother of two, lost an eye in the attack and later moved to England. After the confrontation, she asked the man to write his name down to share with her son, Jason. The incident was reported to authorities, though no charges were filed.

Wendy Savino in 1976 after being shot. — Wendy Savino, photographed in 1976, survived a brutal attack in her car.

DeGennaro, a retired NYC school principal and Berkowitz’s longtime friend, denies trying to frighten her, claiming he was surprised to see her at the library and never told her Berkowitz wanted to speak with her. He also shared he previously supported Berkowitz publicly and bonded with him over their mutual faith.

Following the incident, Savino expressed her anxiety, saying, “I’m very nervous. I was always worried someone might come to me and say ‘I’ll finish you off for David.’” The episode coincides with a forthcoming documentary about Berkowitz, set to premiere later this month, featuring new recorded conversations with him.