On the New York City subway, Bernhard Goetz, a 45-year-old white male, shoots four young black men after they surround him and ask for $5. After wounding three of the unarmed men, Goetz pointed his gun at 18-year-old Darrell Cabey, who was not wounded but cowering terrified in the subway car, and said, “You don’t look too bad, here’s another.” Goetz then shot Cabey in the back, severing his spinal cord. Three of the youths recovered, but Cabey was paralyzed and suffered permanent brain damage.
Goetz, who fled the scene of the crime, turned himself in to police in New Hampshire nine days later. During his subsequent interrogation, Goetz admitted on videotape that when one of the threatening young men smirked at him, he wanted to “kill them all.” The seemingly racially motivated shooting caused considerable controversy in New York and around the country, especially after Goetz pleaded innocent to charges of attempted murder in the subsequent criminal trial.
Goetz’s lawyers argued that the men were trying to rob him and that he was only acting in self-defense, while the prosecution maintained that the four young men were merely panhandling. The case proved particularly divisive in New York City, where racial tensions were high. In 1987, Goetz was cleared of murder and assault charges, but was convicted of illegal gun possession and served 250 days in prison. In April 1996, Darrell Cabey won a civil lawsuit against Goetz and was awarded $43 million by a Bronx jury. Goetz declared bankruptcy soon after the rulings.
In 2001, Goetz made an unsuccessful bid for New York City mayor. In 2013 he was charged with trying to sell marijuana to an undercover police officer. The charges were dismissed by a judge in September 2014 for lack of a speedy trial.
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I lived in NY at the time. Goetz made a huge mistake; he let them live.
After being harassed in the subways by boom box toting darkies for years, I could easily have snapped some morning and I too had a gun in my pocket. His case was my signal to leave.
Wonder how many subway muggings occurred after this incident? /sarc
Shooting aggressive panhandlers should be legal world-wide.
At what point does panhandling become armed robbery? I used to carry an umbrella back then as many in NYC did. We casually maintained distance from the panhandlers much like divers with a shark billy.
A thousand more guys like Goetz might made a dent in black crime against whites. When we become intolerant, the level of crime by black assailants against us will decrease.
The article says it was “seemingly racially motivated.”? I’m telling you, you cannot have a great society unless homogeny is taken into account.
Of course it was racially-motivated…..but only because no gangs of white kids were attacking him. Its not as though he chose to ONLY shoot the black kids, while he let the white kids beat him up.
Put down the Sunday morning crack pipe or use a sarc tag. 🙂
He’d still be in jail if he were actually a white guy.
One favourite cinematic scene of mine:
and yours too (even with Vanilla assailants)I hope, perhaps, even where Bernhard got his inspiration from.
And yeah, he should have made certain that the ferals were no longer a threat to anyone ever.
I remember my mom once blurting out that “Death Wish” was her favorite movie. Living alone, having been burglarized a couple of times, I guess I get it. Still it was shocking to hear that she had watched the film in the first place.
Actions have consequences. If you choose to be a thug, you run the risk that not everyone will be intimidated, and that some will react to your threat with violence. I have little sympathy for thugs…
I left Jersey for West Texas in 84 for a lot of reasons, the constant threat of being mugged was one. I remember cheering for Bernhard Goetz. I was worried for my wife as I was always armed.
I bought one of these in the early 80’s through the Shotgun News:
https://www.gunsamerica.com/968009481/AWESOME-AMT-380-acp-BACK-UP-W-GALCO-WALLET-HOLSTER-STAINLESS-Like-NEW-O-B-.htm
I remember practicing pulling it out of my back pocket and dry firing like I was handing over my wallet to muggers. I still have it. Shot it a month ago.
I was also big in those years into push dagger belt buckles. That is a great weapon that can be pulled in seconds. Had an incident with it once night over a potential mugging…didn’t have to use, but it was out.
Fairly recently I have started to pull my CC on two different black panhandlers in the same Home Depot parking lot (one at dusk, one in daylight) both fast walking towards me spouting a nickel and dime rap for money as I was loading up my pick up. Both times my back was turned as I heard them coming up. They both put their hands up in the air and backed up fast as my body language was unmistakable. I never said a word to either one. They both became the Road Runner.
I hate aggressive panhandlers and will not tolerate their bullshit or stand for their intimidation.
Bernie was a hero in many parts of flyover country.