December 22 - The Bernhard Goetz New York City Subway Shooting
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December 22 - The Bernhard Goetz New York City Subway Shooting
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About this listen
On this day in 1984, a seemingly ordinary subway ride in New York City turned into one of the most polarizing acts of violence in modern American history. When 37-year-old Bernhard Goetz was approached by four Black teenagers asking for $5, he pulled out an unlicensed revolver and opened fire inside a crowded 2 train—paralyzing one and injuring the others.
Dubbed the “subway vigilante” by the press, Goetz ignited a national firestorm that touched on crime, race, self-defense, and the fear gripping urban America at the time. Was it justified self-defense—or an act fueled by racial bias and a thirst for retribution?
In today’s episode, we trace the full arc of the case: from the shooting and Goetz’s flight from the city, to his dramatic confession, landmark court rulings, and the bitter public debates that followed. We explore how People v. Goetz reshaped legal standards for self-defense—and why, four decades later, this case still sparks controversy.
#SubwayVigilante #BernhardGoetz #NYCHistory
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