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. MORE TO READ