From the Archives: 1984 “Subway Vigilante” Bernhard Goetz

In December 1984, Bernhard Goetz shot and seriously wounded four teenagers on a 2 train, citing self-defense. He was later charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment and several firearms offenses. A jury found him not guilty of all charges except an illegal firearms possession count. This archival story is from Dec. 22 as police searched for the “vigilante” on the subway.