In the winter of 1982, a wave of fear had been quietly spreading across New York City, a chilling undercurrent to the bustling metropolis. The city was in the grip of a spree of seemingly random and brutal killings, the work of a man who would come to be known as the ".38 Caliber Killer." The final act of this deadly rampage unfolded on January 4, 1982, claiming the life of 28-year-old Eric Michael Fuller, a male security guard.
On that cold January day in Mount Morris Park, Fuller’s
life was cut short during a robbery. He was shot and killed with a sawed-off shotgun, a departure from the. 38 caliber revolver used in the previous murders. This act of violence was the last in a string of homicides committed by David Bullock, a 21-year-old former male prostitute with a history of criminal activity.
The investigation into the series of murders culminated in the arrest of David Bullock on January 14, 1982. Initially brought in as a witness in the disappearance of his roommate, a search of the premises uncovered a. 38 caliber revolver and a shotgun, linking him to the crimes. Within hours of his detainment, Bullock confessed to a shocking total of six murders that had taken place between December 1981 and January 1982.
During his confession and subsequent court appearances, Bullock displayed a chilling lack of remorse for his actions. He sarcastically and cynically detailed the murders, claiming he committed them because "It's fun" and it "made me happy." He admitted to killing Fuller for cash. Bullock’s other victims included a teacher, a prostitute, an investment consultant, and another man he had met at a Christmas party. He also confessed to the murder of his roommate, whose body was never found.
On October 26, 1982, David Bullock pleaded guilty to six counts of second-degree murder. The court sentenced him to an unprecedented 150 years to life in prison, ensuring that the man who brought a month of terror to the city would never again be free.
