Person

Elliot Williams

Bylines

The Day Bernie Goetz Shot Four Unarmed Teenagers on the Subway

Chronicling the vigilante crime that shook 1980s New York City.

by Elliot Williams via Literary Hub on January 21, 2026

Five Bullets: The Story of Bernie Goetz, New York's Explosive '80s, and the Subway Vigilante Trial That Divided the Nation

Elliot Williams

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Bernhard Goetz leaving the New York City Police Department headquarters in 1985.

Strangers on a Train

Story of Bernie Goetz subway shooting and NYC 1980s fear, racial tension, vigilante justice legacy, and ongoing debate over crime and justice.

by Kevin Lozano via Harper’s on May 20, 2026

"Had to be Done" Red words and image of Bernie Goetz in red.

Vigilante Injustice

Two recent books take on the Bernie Goetz shooting—with differing results.

by Charlotte E. Rosen via The Baffler on April 15, 2026

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