Books › Five Bullets
Five Bullets 2026
Five Bullets is a 2026 nonfiction book written by American legal analyst Elliot Williams. The book tells the story of the 1984 New York City Subway shooting, a pivotal event in the city's history. Middle-aged white man Bernie Goetz shot four black teenagers on the subway after one asked for five dollars. The incident became a major legal and social issue in the nation. Williams analyzes this event through a legal framework.
Around the same time as Five Bullets' release, another publishing house imprint published Fear and Fury by historian Heather Ann Thompson. That book focuses more on portraying the teenagers humanely. Critics responded favorably to Five Bullets. The book examines the trial of Bernie Goetz, which split public opinion in New York and across the country. 80s refers to the legal proceedings that followed the shooting.
Details
- Publisher
- Penguin Press
- ISBN
- 9780593833704
