Heather Ann Thompson

He wants $5.

Because he knows that if they go into this arcade with no money in their pocket, it's not even plausible that they're going to play some games.

So that's sort of a thinking ahead kind of thing.

But by axing for $5, this is panhandling.

And the other thing about New York City in this moment is –

Panhandling is rampant.

The others on the train that day had also seen these teenagers and were unalarmed.

You know, they were unconcerned.

And every exchange that these teenagers had with the other passengers, hey, how are you?

Do you have a light?

No one felt the need to get off the train.

No one felt threatened.

No one felt the need to talk to the conductor.

It all felt very ordinary.

It felt very regular, but not to Bernie Getz.

When these four teenagers are on the train and when Bernie Getz stands up suddenly, by the way, Troy Canty thinks he's reaching for his wallet.

He's relatively

You know, he thinks, oh, OK, that's nice.

The man's going to give me $5.

And when he turns suddenly and he assumes a combat position and, to use his own words, lays down a pattern of fire and takes out first Troy Canty in the chest, then Barry Allen in the back as he is running, then James Ramseur through the arm and the bullet goes into his lungs as he's trying to flee, he misses Daryl Kabe.