Attack on Josie's Bar

Attack on Josie's Bar
Previous	Robbery of Midtown West Gourmet Deli
Next	Kidnapping of Kevin Bacon
War	Red Hook Laundering Scheme
Date	Late 2025
Location	Josie's Bar, New York City, New York
Result	Foggy Nelson is killed by Bullseye. Matt Murdock retires as Daredevil. Bullseye is taken into custody.
Planned by	Vanessa Fisk
Executed by	Bullseye
Target	Benny Cafaro Foggy Nelson
Defender	Daredevil New York City Police Department
Casualties	Foggy Nelson Ten civilians

"I had you released because I need a favor."
"You want me to... kill someone."
"A thief called Benjamin Cafaro and his lawyer, Foggy Nelson."

―Vanessa Fisk and Benjamin Poindexter^[src]

The Attack on Josie's Bar was a planned hit on Foggy Nelson, orchestrated by Vanessa Fisk to conceal the truth about Red Hook Pier, and executed by Bullseye.

Background

"The case he's involved with would shine unwanted light on some of my business practices. It has to be soon. In the next few days. Benjamin, I'm offering you a chance to get your mind back. Your self... This is no way to live. You are the very best at this type of thing. That's why I came."

―Vanessa Fisk to Benjamin Poindexter^[src]

As a part of his plan to rebuild his criminal empire and clear himself of charges, Wilson Fisk made a deal with Ray Nadeem to feed the intel on other criminal groups to the FBI. Being transferred for house imprisonment at the Presidential Hotel, Fisk started manipulating FBI agents on his security detail, coercing them into working for him. He took a special interest in Benjamin Poindexter, taking advantage of his fragile mental state and obsession with Julie Barnes to make Poindexter into his personal enforcer. Using a Daredevil's Suit replica, Poindexter posed as Daredevil and carried out multiple assassinations for Fisk, including killing Nadeem, who was deemed too much of a liability.

Benjamin Poindexter is defeated by Kingpin

However, Daredevil revealed to Poindexter that Fisk had Barnes killed to keep his control over him, causing Poindexter to go on a rampage in an attempt to kill Fisk. Their confrontation resulted in Poindexter getting severely injured and taken into custody by the New York City Police Department, along with Fisk and other FBI agents on his payroll, although the corruption scandal allowed Fisk to get acquitted. Poindexter agreed to participate in an experimental surgery, during which Kenji Oyama reinforced his broken spine with the Cogmium framework. Poindexter recovered from the surgery soon after and was put in a mental institution to serve his sentence.

Vanessa Fisk took over her husband's criminal empire, while he was recovering after getting shot by Maya Lopez, and used Red Hook Pier's status as a free port to bypass the law and launder millions of dollars. At that time, Nelson, Murdock & Page took on the case of Benny Cafaro who robbed a warehouse at Red Hook Pier and stole twenty cases of expensive wine but got caught on surveillance camera. Nelson investigated the incident to build a defense case and found out that Red Hook Pier was a free port, meaning it was completely exempt from any jurisdictions. Nelson intended to file a motion to dismiss the case and clear Cafaro of charges, however, Vanessa could not let that happen since it would uncover on the legal loophole she was using.

Benjamin Poindexter gets approached by Vanessa Fisk

She approached Poindexter at a mental institution, pulling strings at the United States Department of Justice to appeal his charges and set him free. Poindexter was hesitant to accept her offer, due to his disdain towards Kingpin, but Vanessa assured him that he was out of business at the moment and she needed a favor from him personally. Vanessa told Poindexter that he needed to target Cafaro and Nelson, as their case would seriously damage her business if it reaches the court. Poindexter signed the paperwork for his release, and adopted the name Bullseye, attacked Cafaro at Nelson's apartment and forcing Nelson's whereabouts out of him.

Attack

Bullseye prepares to shoot Foggy Nelson

"Keep your eyes open, Foggy. Just keep your eyes on me, okay? We're gonna get you help."

―Karen Page to Foggy Nelson^[src]

With the information acquired from Benny Cafaro, Bullseye stationed himself on a rooftop nearby Josie's Bar and lined up a shot with a sniper, aiming directly at Foggy Nelson. A phone call from Cafaro to Nelson revealed that he had been attacked, leading Matt Murdock to suit up as Daredevil and go looking for him. Daredevil heard the metallic clicking of Bullseye's sniper and attempted to trace the sound to its source.

Bullseye throws a smoke grenade in the bar

However, he was too late, as Bullseye shot Nelson in the chest in front of Karen Page. Two bar patrons, alerted by the shot, came outside, but they too were shot. Bullseye headed to ground level and threw a smoke grenade into the bar, causing panic. Page retrieved her gun from her purse as Bullseye approached and menacingly greeted her. Before he could shoot her with his pistol, Daredevil swung into him with his billy club, knocking him through a window into the bar.

Daredevil and Bullseye fight in Josie's Bar

Bullseye quickly recovered from the ambush and fought Daredevil in the bar while the bar patrons exited to safety, including NYPD officers Cherry and Angie Kim. Daredevil used his enhanced senses to listen as Page told a wheezing Nelson that paramedics would arrive soon. Cherry called the NYPD and informed them that there was a shooter before he and Kim reentered the bar with their guns drawn to help other bar patrons get out safely.

Daredevil catches up to a fleeing Bullseye

Some of the bar patrons barricaded themselves behind a sliding door, but Daredevil threw Bullseye into it, causing it to come down. A few people tried to help Daredevil and fight Bullseye, but he quickly dispatched them. While Daredevil was tending to the bar patrons, Bullseye escaped into the adjoining apartment complex, killing a couple of tenants who were dialing 911. Cherry took over caring for the injured bar patrons, allowing Daredevil to catch up to his foe.

Daredevil listens to Karen Page's words

Daredevil used his billy club to cut the power to the hallway and attacked Bullseye again. Bullseye, however, used multiple knives as projectiles, embedding them in Daredevil's skin. Daredevil managed to knock Bullseye onto a staircase and used the moment to check on Nelson with his enhanced senses, once again hearing Page tell him to hang on. While distracted, Bullseye struck him in the head with his billy club and stumbled up the stairs to the roof.

Foggy Nelson dies

Daredevil recovered and grappled up to the roof behind Bullseye, leaping at him and knocking him down. The two heavily exhausted foes continued to fight until they ended up at the rooftop's edge. Daredevil held Bullseye in place while he used his senses to listen to Nelson's heartbeat down below. Page desperately told Nelson to stay with her and that it would be okay, but Nelson's heart soon stopped. Page let out a cry of anguish as Daredevil realized his friend was gone.

Matt Murdock sobs over Foggy Nelson's death

Daredevil shook Bullseye and angrily asked him why he had killed Nelson, only for him to respond with a smug chuckle and a mock slap on the shoulder. In response, Daredevil callously threw Bullseye off the roof, where he fell right behind Page; he survived due to his enhanced spine. Page, unsure if he was Daredevil or her friend's killer, slowly turned around and gasped in relief when she found it was Bullseye. Page looked up to the rooftop, where Daredevil cried and took off his mask. Cherry came up to the roof at that moment and learned that Murdock was Daredevil, while he was unfazed and continued mourning for his friend.

Aftermath

Benjamin Poindexter is sentenced to life in prison

"Benjamin Leonard Poindexter, you have been convicted of eleven counts of murder in the first degree. In accordance with the laws of New York State, you are hereby sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, for each count, to be served consecutively."

―Maribeth Hillson to Benjamin Poindexter^[src]

As a result of the attack and Foggy Nelson's death, Nelson, Murdock & Page ceased their operations and Karen Page decided to move out of New York City to California. Matt Murdock felt that he could no longer be Daredevil and retired from being a vigilante, starting a new law firm with Kirsten McDuffie. A year later, Murdock testified at Benjamin Poindexter's trial and asked for the court to give him the maximum punishment allowed. Maribeth Hillson sentenced Poindexter to a life sentence at Rikers Island, seeing that he showed no remorse for killing Nelson and other people at Josie's Bar, to which Poindexter had no objections.

Poindexter's attack was considered to be an independent act of revenge, since Nelson was instrumental in uncovering the corruption at the FBI and Poindexter's initial arrest, while his ties were Vanessa Fisk remained undiscovered. She continued to work with the Five Families on exploiting Red Hook Pier, while Wilson Fisk got elected as Mayor of New York City and planned to fully redevelop the pier and increase its profitability. Fisk decided that Poindexter was a loose end, so he sent an order to Rikers Island to transfer him to a general population, knowing that an ex-FBI agent would not survive there for long. Poindexter sought a meeting with Murdock and offered him to reveal the truth about his attack on Nelson if Murdock agreed to represent him, and even though he refused, Poindexter was still able to escape from prison.

Benjamin Poindexter tries to kill Wilson Fisk

Speaking with Josie, Murdock found out that on the night of his death, Nelson opened their special O'Melveny's bottle, celebrating winning Benny Cafaro's case early. Murdock started to piece together that something larger was at play and attended the Black & White Ball, suspecting that Fisk could be connected, but discovered that Vanessa was the one who ordered Poindexter to kill Nelson. Murdock confronted Vanessa, before sensing Poindexter breaking into Gracie Mansion to kill Fisk, so he threw himself in front of the bullet, saving Fisk's life. Surviving the attack, Fisk opted to use Poindexter's attack to support his anti-vigilante platform and strengthen his control of the city.