Bernie Goetz Looks Back
It was 25 years ago today that Bernie Goetz pulled out a handgun on a No. 2 train and opened fire on four black teenagers who he claimed were planning to mug him. Goetz fired five shots and all four were seriously injured— one was left a paraplegic—and the story, which touched on the hot buttons of race and urban crime, dominated the news media for months. Goetz later stood trial for attempted murder, assault, and reckless endangerment, although a jury only convicted him of illegal firearms, and he ultimately spent less than a year in prison before his release. Cindy Adams took a few minutes to catch up with Goetz on the occasion of the anniversary to see if planned to do anything to do mark the day.
Goetz's answer:
"I told Barry Slotnick [the lawyer who represented him at trial] that in his office maybe we could stage a re-enactment or have some get-together with the jury and whatever witnesses are still around, but that didn't seem to happen. Otherwise I'm not going to do anything."
If that's the creepiest thing you've heard all day, you aren't the only one.
