The 1984 Subway Shooting That Still Shapes What We Think
The 1984 Subway Shooting That Still Shapes What We Think  
Podcast: All Of It
Published On: Tue Jan 20 2026
Description: The 1984 shooting of four Black teens by Bernie Goetz was one of New York City's defining moments. Four decades later, we are still grappling with issues it raises about race, gun rights, and vigilantism -- and why we so often resort to violence in order to make ourselves feel safe. CNN legal analyst Elliot Williams, author of the new book Five Bullets: The Story of Bernie Goetz, New York's Explosive '80s, and the Subway Vigilante Trial That Divided the Nation, discusses the events and their aftermath.