Bernie Goetz, the Subway Vigilante - Only in New York - Episode 1
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 7 мар 2019
- Just before Christmas 1984 in New York, Bernhard Goetz opened fire on four young black men on a Manhattan subway train. Fearing he was being mugged, Goetz shot them before jumping off the train and disappearing into the subway tunnel. It all happened as if it were a scene from the Charles Bronson film Death Wish a decade prior.
The media quickly dubbed him “The Subway Vigilante.” A week later, Goetz turned himself in and confessed that he acted in self-defense. The incident sparked a racial firestorm and resonated with New Yorkers worn down by rampant crime, which remains a concern for the MTA.
Was Goetz trying to protect himself, or were his actions racially motivated?
Only in New York chronicles some of the most controversial moments in recent New York City history. A subway shooting that ignited a racial firestorm; the deadly days of the crack epidemic; a pair of high-profile trials that exposed the hidden horrors of domestic abuse; and the assassination of a rising political star inside the hallowed corridors of municipal power. These stories are retold with rare footage pulled straight from the WPIX archives. Only in New York features new interviews with PIX11 journalists, expert analysts and the headline-makers themselves. Watch Fridays in March on PIX11 TV.
Created by Heath Benfield
Produced by Heath Benfield and Mike Lee
Production Coordinator - Mike Lee
Director of Photography - Colin Sonner
Supervising Editor - Dmitry Trakovsky
Executive Producers - David Hyman, Bart Feder and Chris Wayland
Colorist - Markus Englmair
Production Assistant - Matthew Santora
Title Artist - Steve Mitas
Watch all episodes: • PIX11 Originals | Only...
They demanded 5 dollars, he gave them 5 bullets.
I got your 5 dollars
And they kept the change.
You want 5 dollars? Get a job.
Self defense is a human right.
Yeah this shit shows how stupid and how people want to make trouble. Dude was surrounded by 4 guys with weapons. Fuck their skin color, I’d shoot them in a heart beat too. I value my life
@@anime_cyko self defense isn't shooting someone in the back dying already
@@ATLgamingZ6 good thing none of them were dying. Being shot doesn't mean one is dying, it just means they were shot. All of them survived. What do you want to talk about next? How he fired all shots within seconds with no break? That's pretty significant.
@@anime_cyko What colour is a tree?
@@ATLgamingZ6 Just pretend the second shot was a robbery and you'll feel better.
If your business is robbing people on the subway, you take the risk of someone fighting back and perhaps kill you in the process. DON'T ROB PEOPLE.
In america Yes but only in America bc its not normal in any other country in the west n doesn't that say something lol
@@davechristian7543 you saying Americans should just allow themselves to be robbed?
Leftists only protect the working class when the workers are career criminals.
Amen!
@@davechristian7543 you don't have the population of violent blacks that we do.
Bernhard Goetz only crime was possessing and carrying the gun without the proper license...which he DID apply for after being jumped and held up for umpteenth time, this time for his leather jacket which left him with a permanently bad knee...but was denied by the NYPD license division for "insufficient need". A practice the NYPD continues today when it comes to every 9-5er who they feel isn't important enough or doesn't make enough money.
The shot men later admitted they wanted to rob Goetz because he looked like an easy target. At least 3 screwdrivers were found by paramedics on the men. One was sharpened. Goetz did not romp around the hood looking for black men to shoot. They came to him on that train with the intention of strong arming him. Kuby needs to rewatch the original death wish, as Paul shot damn near the entire spectrum of the rainbow, not just black men. Al Sharpton...no comment.
In the end, Goetz was found not guilty of attempted murder and assault, but convicted of "criminal" possession of a weapon for carrying the gun unlicensed. A license he was denied because he wasn't rich of famous. If you got the bread, or name recognition, you get your carry license in NYC. A corrupt, 108 year practice not even denied by NYPD and city hall, but OPENLY celebrated. Look up sullivan act, and it's author. Then tell me why this law should remain.
I luv your incite. It's all about the money. Any man has the right too defend himself.....too hell with what the police or the politics.
As a lifelong New Yorker, I appreciate you keeping it real ‼️
Say your prayers: there's a case the US Supreme Court will hear this next session that may force NYC to issue concealed carry permits. We might finally be getting our RIGHT to Bear Arms!
with no bruises tho??
a glem in his eye really wow
It wasn’t about race until the media and Al Sharpton got involved.
Sharpton and then-Mayor Ed Koch were the biggest asses.
I wouldn't be surprised if Sharpton is a supporter of Kamau Kambon, too!
I would much rather defend myself in court than to have a loved one put flowers on my grave. Piss on laws that give the criminal more rights than the victim.
It is better to be judged by 12, then to be carried by 6.
Ok and that relates to this how?
The laws fuel a black market
@@anime_cyko Bernie was imprisoned for defending himself against a gang of animals.
@@anime_cyko Who are you responding to?
You risk violence towards yourself when you attack someone
You have the right to defend yourself......PERIOD.
And if I walked up to you and said “Gimme five dollars” you wouldn’t shoot me because I’m white. Hence why Goetz and his supporters were racists.
@@alexcentury2166 If you had a weapon pulled and tried to rob me, I'd shoot without thinking. You inserted a racial narrative; not the OP. It is your side who is racist.
@@alexcentury2166would you make a demand - "Gimme five dollars!" in an intimidating and persistent fashion though??
It wouldn't _need_ to matter what colour your skin was.
There are white people out there who can be extremely frightening (one in particular I once had the misfortune of encountering, who I am very suspicious may have committed a murder some time ago).
Are you _quite_ sure it's not (really) *you* who has an issue with race? (No, that's not a question designed to deflect - it's a question based on life experience)
If 4 white guys would have tried robbing him he would have done the same thing
Definitely. He was DONE taking crap from criminal thugs having been mugged several times prior to
the incident. They could’ve been purple with red polka dots. It wouldn’t have mattered.
Bernie Goetz merchandise became hot after the incident started receiving all the press and media coverage.
The Bernie T-shirt, which
had a picture of Bernie and underneath it said:
“I don’t get mad, I Goetz even”,
I was tempted to get one myself
but I was only 11 at the time.
If the attackers were white, Al Sharpton would have minded his business. Al Sharpton was a troublemaker between whites and blacks and never interfered when it came to blacks committing crimes against black people
Maybe maybe not !
@@rickbrenner6079How come you people only call black young men criminal thugs?
This is the Bernie America needs!
Lol, definitely!
No refunds!
Hell yeah
"And he shoots them over 5 bucks?" If Bernie hadn't shot them but simply denied the request, what would they have done Al?
He took one criminal off the streets. Sadly he didn't succeed with the other because they went on to commit more heinous crimes. Rapes, assault, robberies. No petty crimes.
I live in Alaska, and I remember this day. I am still on his side, over 30 years later.
Al sharpton was against bernie which means Bernie was in the right
they weren't just sitting ducks on the subway.. they were trying to rob the guy and used to getting away with it apparently.
I think the muggers' BIGGEST complaint, was that the shooting happened in PUBLIC, so they may have felt compelled to save face.
If it happened behind closed doors, this story would never have seen the light of day, and we could all just get on with our lives in peace.
It doesn't get much better than having all of the classic archival footage paired with interviews and testimonies from one of the most fascinating eras in NYC's history (and it's always good to see Mary Murphy and Arnold Diaz). The team that put this series together deserves praise. I only wish that each episode were longer as I'd love to see the events covered in a bit more of an in-depth look, and I also thought the racial criticisms were represented in somewhat of a one-sided manner in this episode (maybe the racial breakdown of the perpetrators of subway muggings, along with one of the individuals' admission that the intent was to rob Goetz as stated in an '85 interview with Jimmy Breslin) could have been presented in order to put specific viewpoints into perspective as compared to what was presented in the production).
All in all, not a bad watch at all. I'd love to see more things like this from PIX11 in the future.
FCV0511 “Sort of one-sided“??
Horrible reporting and racist comments against Bernie.
This is why there should be open carry
This was AWESOME !! And being a native New Yorker that grew up in Brooklyn during the 1960's and 1970's, I remember this case all too well from 1984. Bernie Goetz had every right to DEFEND himself !! NOT GUILTY, vigilante HERO !!
we need more Bernard Geotz type of persons today.. he was ahead of his time.. God Bless Him
I grew up in Brooklyn. I remember this case, too. I was 14.
The liberals should have recognized that Bernie just robbed the four men of their ability to victimize him.
Lol. Of course they were trying to get away. The thugs just brought a screwdriver to a GUN FIGHT.
Al Sharpton, go away!
When you have people approach you on a subway, or anywhere else, brandishing knives, they're not asking you for anything, they're not panhandling, they're trying to rob you. Al Sharpton needs to learn the difference. I would have done exactly the same thing if I was armed and put in that position.
al is a trouble maker and aig mouth
“You don’t look to bad...here’s another.” Lol😹🤣😂😹😂😅🤣
They asked him for 5 dollars and he shoots them. The guy at the start saying that sounded pissed. What they did was they demanded money while outnumbering him and armed. How the hell does he know that they're not going to start stabbing him after he hands it over? Does he know them? Is he a mind reader? All he knows is he's being threatened with sharpened screwdrivers by multiple guys and this guy's whining because they only asked for 5 dollars! Unbelievable.
Goetz is a hero! I would've done the same thing.
the guy looks like Jeffrey Dahmer.
"only police officers or mafia can shoot like that" NEGATIVE A lot of gun owners in the United States of America can shoot like that. God bless the shooting ranges and responsible citizenry. Crime does not pay. It could cost a criminal their life.
I was 14 when this happened in 1984. I would've done the same thing.
Those four were going for the jackpot,instead got lead
It’s self defense.
He was mugged 3 times before this and one of them was on a subway from 3 guys before this so of course he was on guard.
I missed this episode tonight. Thank you for posting this on RUclips. This was so fascinating.
that's great man, this is from 1984
Where is the story from the 80’s where men where speaking In Spanish late at night on the train. Everyone left the train except the 2 women that didn’t know the language... they where both gang raped. This is what went on back then
The production style reminds me so much of Cocaine Cowboys, and I mean that as a compliment.
sh987 Fax
19:42 To someone with a liberal mindset, the idea that a black man acting in self-defense would have been found innocent is "unfathomable". The brazen projection and condescension of these people leaves me in awe.
My favorite exchange in the tape is Assistant District Attorney of Manhattan, Susan Braver's, contribution to stupid questions in history:
"Why these four? Why these four?"
"Oh isn't it beautiful? You ask the question in such an intellectual way."
"Why these four?"
"I never picked out these four. I never met those guys."
"But why these four?"
It's all about race to the cancerous scum of society like Braver and Sharpton.
maybe those 4 cause those were the ones robbing him.
I wonder if Bernie Goetz saw the film Joker
Omid Films The subway scene was inspired by Bernie
the guy looks like Jeffrey Dahmer.
I definitely would have acquitted him! Look at the problems we have today- 20x's worse....
That man had no right to defend himself.Imagine,wanting to stay alive,horrible!
It's considered "racist" to simply preserve ones' life these days.
Didn't you know??
@@letsdiscussitoversometea8479only if ur white
You have no business carrying a gun if you aren't going to do maximum damage when it's time to use it.
Well the subways are still in criminals hands.
Sharpton is crazy
Evil actually.
the Subway's still like that
A Man's Got To Know His Limitations.
Goetz should get a medal
It's fucking scary that people aren't unanimously supporting this guy for defending himself, and this happened almost 40 years ago.
The people in this segment are race baiting. They ignore all the facts of the case on focus on these so called victims race. Why? For headlines! Any foo' knows that.
You got that right!
I mean next time don’t rob the guy
I'm glad this whole story had a happy ending after all. Justice was served to everyone involved.
04:46 “he gotta be a marksman or something”😂😂
From a New York Native living in Tampa, THANK YOU for posting this for those out of your viewing area that grew up on your station. This looks like REQUIRED viewing for true fans.
Death Wish was not a racist movie. And Bernard Goetz not a racist.
He should have been given a medal
I just came here from looking at Miami Vice episode Nobody lives Forever. A character quoted Goetz's line.
Police won’t do anything so you have to
I would like too see bernie goetz and say thank you i would've done the same thing too #BERNIE A AMERICAN HERO
Bernie gave a new meaning to the phrase "4 on the floor."
‘Allegedly asked him for $5’ by 4 guys on a locked moving subway car. Sounds like a fair request that’s safe to deny
This man is a hero and should be absolutely praised.
There were only 5 bullets in his gun, one bullet missed. One shot per criminal. He didn't shoot any of them twice.
One of the greatest Americans ever!
@@Proud-Ally Irony is hard. I had to read the definition around three times when I searched for it years ago. Even What's Her Name got it wrong in her song Ironic. Is that ironic? Morrisette.
Oh, I see. Goetz is the real life Joker
I feel like this was turned into a race issue where there wasn't one. He didn't choose who he was threatened by.
My hero 😍
Bernie was outright justified in defending himself against those thugs. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Al Sharpton would prefer you sit there and just give up the money. The question he doesn't want to talk about is what if he hadn't given up that $5 -- what do you think these 4 young men with sharpened screwdrivers would have done?
How the hell is this a crime? He was protecting himself! That's not a vigilante, he was protecting... I'm sorry but to me he didn't do anything wrong! They had sharpened screwdrivers so what did they think they would do to him Ask him to come over for a BBQ?! Maybe not shot so many times then.
Yes. Vigilante justice would be pursuing them out into the streets.
The should make Bernhard Goetz day a STATE HOLIDAY!
justified then and today, no matter what color the assailants were / are
Only if you lived in Manhattan during those years you would know what was going on.
St. Louis today. Even if you give the thugs your wallet, phone, and car; they still shoot you.
2020 we need this now with the bail reform
Self defense. Not vigilante whatsoever. The criminals with the sharpened screw drivers approached a young man sitting alone and thought he looked like an easy target for robbery and they were mistaken that day. Such is the risks of criminal career.
NYC history
It is the right and responsibility of all citizens to defend and uphold their own liberties and personal safety regardless of what the law and government says on the matter. You’re either a victim or a survivor. There is no in between and waiting on someone else to do it for you is suicide.
The train was rough back then especially the 3 train
"Wouldn't mind having him along with me next time I visit my mother-in-law."
This was part of my Youth I Remember it well.
Despite making up only thirteen percent of the population...
I have to give it to you Sir, your opinion in the "Goetz mattter" is most thought provoking 6/12/2020 SRC
What song is playing in the beginin?
What a joke he even got jail time. Don't mug people if you don't want to end up looking like red swiss cheese.
I remember this just like yesterday
A little bit of Al Sharpton goes a long, long ways..........
Having said that, getting shot and possibly losing you life or the use of Limbs is one of the "Occupational Hazards" of Robbery.
I am old enough to remember this being a top story in the news. I heard family discussing it and trying to understand why it occurred.
it is not difficult
Bernie Goetz is the last person mentioned in the Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire"
Ironic how it’s more dangerous than ever down there.
One can always rely on good old Al Sharpton to back criminal goons. 🙄
An American Hero!
I don't thinking it was a race thing and I'm black .. if you ever been robbed you know that feeling of frustrating paranoia.. he was just not the one
wow, Al Sharpton in damn near every historical documentary on RUclips...lol
The Reverend.
It’s crazy to me how one of the “victims” admitted they were going to rob an arcade with those screw drivers and two of the 4 of those “victims” were convicted for robbery and rape not too long after this subway incident. One did 5 years and the other did 25 years and there were still people trying to paint them as victims while Bernard was seen as the bad one. Let’s say Bernard didn’t have a gun and instead was robbed and stabbed by those screw drivers. I bet you there would have been no public outrage, it would’ve just been seen as another regular day in the NYC subway. It’s crazy how when someone finally stands up and fights back they’re automatically seen as the aggressors. This is still happening today in 2023, it’s honestly sad there seems to be no end to this. I’m glad Goetz had his fair share of supporters.
Great documentary 👍🏿
This segment was full of race baiters. Period.
Decades later he got arrested for selling weed to an undercover cop lol
@@swampdonkey4919 he lost alot of his money millions shooting Daryl cabbey who had not participated in the robbery, his friends surrounded goetz while he was sitting.
@@j-starzdee1735 Did he actually pay him any money, though? I was under the impression he didn't, but I may be thinking about someone else.
@@swampdonkey4919 yea. Goetz got sued for 39 million. One of the kids named cabbey did not participate in the robbery with his 4 other friends and was sitting away from goetz and his friends when it happened. Cabbey was the only one without a criminal record and should of been left alone
@@j-starzdee1735 Too bad he had to hang out with his dead beat friends, it's his own fault
Bernard Goetz, the real life Paul Kersey.
Amen.
9:47 The thugs were going to kill him over $5. Let’s over look that bit of the story to make them the victims.
I was in the 8th grade when this all went down
@@sitdowndogbreath Get a life
He was right
Thanks Billy Joel for bringing this to my attention!! (We didn't start the fire)
Those who like Bernie should watch his interview on the premier episode of William Shatner's "Aftermath" TV show on the Biography Channel (available on A-z). Bernie details his shooting practice & technique.
I think anybody would have acted like Goetz under such circumstances.
we need more Bernard Geotz type of person today.. he was ahead of his time.. God Bless Him
"He was prepared to do maxim damage" I Know That's right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FIRE😂😂😀😀🤣🤣🤣🤣LETS GOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"NOT TODAY"lmaoooooooooooooooooooooooo
😂😂😂😂😂😂if you had that look thats it man you a human pinyata gotta love curtis sliwa
Why do you think they put this video about Goetz in March 2019?
I love this series, but it would have been better if they could have interviewed the reporters and everyday New Yorkers who lived through those stories in those years, because these new WPIX reporters weren't even alive back then to be given their take/opinion on those stories.
"There is a criminal code, and he violated it" Yeah he wasn't made a victim by criminals what a "tragedy"
Sharpton casting stones? Hahaha