Trial by Media

S01E02 Subway Vigilante

On December 22, 1984, Bernhard Goetz shot and injured four men—Barry Allen, Troy Canty, Darrell Cabey, and James Ramseur—while traveling on a subway in New York City. Goetz asserted that he acted in self-defense against an attempted mugging, but his actions ignited a contentious trial that captured media attention and led to him being dubbed the "Subway Vigilante." The case sparked widespread debate and discussions about crime and self-defense in urban settings.