@CNN legal analyst. Get your copy of FIVE BULLETS here: https://teapawt.org/t.co/uLsbiEwHvA
Washington, D.C.
Joined May 2010
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📚🎉 Was it self-defense? Or racist vigilante violence?
Both!
My book, Five Bullets, about the 1984 "Subway Vigilante" shooting, is out today. Here's the video Penguin Press put out about it.
Check it out to see what America has been fighting about for 40 years...
Coming up on Thursday -- @CapehartJ and me at the @dcpl MLK Library. Free, June 11 at 7 p.m.
Pass it on to anyone who will be in DC that night!
Hey, DC -- join @CapehartJ and me next Thursday at the @dcpl MLK library talking about my book, FIVE BULLETS!
DC -- join @CapehartJ and me next Thursday!
A subway shooting. A divided city. A story that still echoes today.
“Five Bullets” author Elliot Williams unpacks the 1984 Bernhard Goetz case—how it happened and why it mattered—in conversation with Jonathan Capehart.
📍 MLK Library
🗓️ June 11 | 7PM
🎟️ bit.ly/4uFVuZB
ALT This image is a promotional poster for an author talk hosted by DC Public Library. The event features Elliot Williams, a CNN legal analyst, and Jonathan Capehart, a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist. They will discuss the book "Five Bullets" by Elliot Williams. The talk is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, at 7 p.m. at the MLK Library. The poster includes photos of both speakers and the book cover.
Hey, DC -- join @CapehartJ and me next Thursday at the @dcpl MLK library talking about my book, FIVE BULLETS!
A subway shooting. A divided city. A story that still echoes today.
“Five Bullets” author Elliot Williams unpacks the 1984 Bernhard Goetz case—how it happened and why it mattered—in conversation with Jonathan Capehart.
📍 MLK Library
🗓️ June 11 | 7PM
🎟️ bit.ly/4uFVuZB
ALT This image is a promotional poster for an author talk hosted by DC Public Library. The event features Elliot Williams, a CNN legal analyst, and Jonathan Capehart, a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist. They will discuss the book "Five Bullets" by Elliot Williams. The talk is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, at 7 p.m. at the MLK Library. The poster includes photos of both speakers and the book cover.
My book Five Bullets comes to DC on June 11 — and I'll be joined in conversation by my friend, Pulitzer Prize winner Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) at @DCLibrary's MLK branch. Free. 7pm. 🧵
👀The Goetz case was the first major true-crime story of the cable news era — where Al Sharpton found his platform, where Rudy Giuliani made a fateful decision, where Rupert Murdoch learned fear sells papers. I wrote this book because those threads run straight to the present...
Come with questions! Can't wait.
📅 June 11 | 7–8:30pm
📍 MLK Library | 901 G St NW, DC
🎟 Free — register: dclibrary.libnet.info/event/…
So great talking FIVE BULLETS and all things 1980s NYC with @pescami -- he truly understood the book and the issues behind it, and it all made for a great episode of @pescagist. Give it a listen!
CNN legal analyst and author of Five Bullets @elliotcwilliams explains how Gregory Waples' remarks alienated jurors in the Bernie Goetz trial. But was he that far off?
Plus fear, juror psychology, to the limits of legal authority.
@pescami
#TheGistPodcast #ElliotWilliams #BernieGoetz #CriminalJustice #NYCHistory
Great interviewing you for "Five Bullets," Scott! My fave anecdote from you was that for a while after the trial, Bernie Goetz would randomly come sit in the waiting room of your law firm, just wanting to talk. What a crazy story. (Which in an email the other day, he disputed.)
Interesting that two books are coming out about Bernhard Goetz. Only one, Elliot Williams, spoke with me about the case.
nytimes.com/2026/01/20/books…
Thanks so much, @LuluGNavarro! I appreciate you!
Congratulations to my pal @elliotcwilliams on the launch of his incredible book which has such deep resonance today. It’s a deep read on vigilantism, race and our American experience. I love it and you will too. Five Bullets is out now.
High praise! I, and MY BOOK FIVE BULLETS, OUT IN STORES NOW, will take it
“Thanks to @ElliotCWilliams. Check out the book, #FiveBullets, which he came close to Tevi Troy levels of book title mentioning his book title, which was impressive…” @jonahdispatch @jonahremnant overcast.fm/+ABAECJnVl54
Thank you, @LawProfButler! I'm so thrilled by the attention the book is getting...
Excited about my friend @elliotcwilliams's important new book that's out today! It's smart, and a great read. Check it out.
You're the best, @JoyceWhiteVance. Thank you!!!
This is one of my two new must read books. @elliotcwilliams is as good of a writer as he is a researcher. I’ll be sharing this one with my students for years to come.
Bless you, @juliettekayyem!
Thank you so much for the high praise, @alexthomp!
I bought @elliotcwilliams’ new book and so should you!
All the accolades, yes: NYT most anticipated book of 2026, New Yorker called it “carefully wrought.”
But also, Elliot’s a great writer and person and you should buy the book
penguinrandomhouse.com/books…
Yes! With Bernie Goetz back in the news with my book, "We Didn't Start the Fire" is having another moment!
3/ Just the other day, I had to explain "We Didn't Start the Fire" by @billyjoel to a GenZer who'd never heard of it. We pulled up the lyrics, which includes the Goetz reference in a memorable section on issues roiling the world in 1989.
All 119 references are explained here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o…
Get your copy of FIVE BULLETS here: penguinrandomhouse.com/books…
Get your copy of Five Bullets here: penguinrandomhouse.com/books…
Thank you, @davidfrum! I'm gratified by all the praise Five Bullets is getting, including this huge @nytimes piece this morning...
Front page NYT for important new book by @elliotcwilliams nytimes.com/2026/01/20/books… via @NYTimes
Get your copy of Five Bullets here: penguinrandomhouse.com/books…