brian watkins died on the way to the hospital. he was just 22 years old. >> how would you describe the media reaction to this murder ? >> almost inducing a wave of panic. >> it is the terror of life in new york city. no one is safe from random violence. >> new york in 1990 was a city under siege. the worst year of crime in the city's history. and most terrifying was underground. >> often, subway stations -- >> at the time, the man responsible for policing the transit system was built brockton. >> there was no denying crime was out of control. >> is widely recognized as one of the nation's top cops. he's run the police departments of america's two largest cities, including two tours as new york city's police commissioner. >> compare that to other years. >> there is no comparison. 1990, 2000, last year, 333. >> but it was a 1385th homicide of that year, brian watkins murder, that the police commissioner says caused everyone to pay attention. beginning with then mayor david dinkins. >> the headline around that time, dave, do somethin