49% in Poll Approve Gunman’s Actions
NEW YORK — A poll released Sunday found that about half of the New Yorkers questioned support subway gunman Bernhard Hugo Goetz, 37, who remained in a Rikers Island jail cell Sunday.
The Daily News-WABC-TV poll showed 49% of the 515 New Yorkers questioned approved of Goetz’s actions, while 31% disapproved.
But the poll found that most stopped short of calling him a hero. Only 17% thought he should be given a medal for shooting four teen-agers, who have told police they accosted Goetz for $5 to play video games.
The poll showed 58% disagreed with the attempted murder charges filed against Goetz and 75% thought he acted in self-defense.
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