In Queens, New York, a young woman is raped and murdered in her apartment building. Rubin, the attacker, is seen by an elderly woman, but she declines to inform the police. Instead, she notifies a vigilante team comprised of local residents Nick, Ramon, and Burke. They find Rubin on a street corner, bragging to friends about how he evaded prosecution for his crime, and drag him to their van. The next day, housewife Vickie Marino comes to the defense of a gas station attendant who is being bullied by Frederico “Rico” Melendez, leader of the Headhunters gang. When she returns home with her toddler son, Scott, she notices Rico and several gang members parked outside, and calls police for help. Within seconds, the gang enters and assaults her. Scott hides in the bathtub, but gang member Prago kills him with a shotgun. Vickie runs to the backyard, screaming for help, and is brutally beaten by Rico. Meanwhile, her husband, Eddie, lunches at a saloon with coworkers Nick, Ramon, and Burke. Patrolman Gibbons enters and informs the group that Rubin was found dead with every bone in his body broken. Nick takes no credit for the murder, but reminds the officer that his neighbors need protection that police and the courts no longer provide. Later, as Eddie leaves work, he asks about the exchange with Patrolman Gibbons. Burke recalls his frustrating career as a police officer, and recommends vigilantism as a more effective form of law enforcement. Eddie returns home to find his house surrounded by police cars. Detective Russo assures Eddie that police know the identity of the guilty parties and advises him to file a complaint with District Attorney Mary Fletcher. Eddie meets with Fletcher, who informs him that Rico has been arrested. Afterward, Nick recounts a similar tragedy that befell his family, and advises Eddie to carry a gun, rather than allow himself to be victimized. Eddie disagrees, believing an escalation of violence can only lead to anarchy. He attends Rico’s arraignment, as does Prago, who pays defense attorney Eisenberg a large amount of cash to assure Rico’s freedom. Eisenberg motions to drop the murder charge, in return for a guilty plea for assault. Mary Fletcher agrees, but demands a fifteen-year sentence. Judge Sinclair notes that Rico has no prior convictions, despite his twenty-two arrests, and offers two-year suspended sentence. Eddie is unable to contain his outrage, and the judge sentences him to prison for contempt of court. That evening, Nick, Ramon, and Burke trace the illegal narcotics trade in their community to Thomas “Mr. T” Stokes, a prominent businessman with known connections to organized crime, and ambush him outside his office. Meanwhile, at the prison, Eddie is attacked in the shower by prison bully, Leon, and his sycophant, Felix, before an older inmate named Rake comes to Eddie’s defense and subdues them. Upon Eddie’s release, he joins the vigilantes. They burst into Rico’s apartment as he makes love to his girl friend, Rosie, and accuse him of killing Scott. Rico blames the murder on Prago, but he and Rosie are both shot to death. Outside, a member of the Headhunters witnesses the group’s departure and informs Prago. As police investigate the crime scene, Detective Russo advises Patrolman Gibbons not to discuss the killings, believing the media will portray the vigilantes as heroes. The next day, Vickie is released from the hospital, but refuses to return home, as the trauma left her with no feelings for her husband. When Eddie expresses his intent to leave the city in hope of finding a safer place to live, Nick convinces him to stay and fight for his home. Later, Eddie sees Prago on the street and pursues him to a construction site. Prago tries to escape, but Eddie throws him from a tall structure onto the pavement below. That night, Eddie eliminates the last of his enemies by placing a bomb in Judge Sinclair’s car.