Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank James in custody after massive manhunt
Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank James was taken into custody Wednesday.
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Frank R. James, the 62-year-old man accused of popping a smoke canister in a crowded New York City subway car before opening fire during the Tuesday morning rush hour, is in police custody after a good Samaritan spotted him walking down a Manhattan sidewalk in broad daylight Wednesday.
In 30 hours between the attack and his arrest, investigators obtained and distributed images of the suspect in the hope that the public could help catch him. They searched a storage unit and apartment linked to him in Philadelphia, which he had spoken of in numerous videos posted to a now-disabled YouTube channel. And he may have taunted investigators by calling in the tip line to report himself, according to law enforcement sources, even as a security camera technician spotted him in the East Village and turned him in.
Ret. FBI supervisory special agent James Gagliano reveals why tracking the New York City subway shooter did not prevent him from allegedly doing the crime on ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight.’
Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank James seen entering the station. (NYPD)
A photo from surveillance footage released by the NYPD shows suspect Frank James entering the transit system before the attack at the 36th Street subway station in Brooklyn Tuesday morning.
He can be seen dressed in a construction jacket and yellow hard hat as he swipes a MetroCard at the turnstile.
A criminal complaint was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn Wednesday, charging Frank James with conducting a violent attack on a mass transportation vehicle, according to the Department of Justice.
New York City police officers arrested James in Manhattan earlier Wednesday. He will make his initial court appearance on Thursday, April 14, before United States Magistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann.
If convicted, James faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
New York City Police Department officers arrest subway shooting suspect Frank R. James, 62, in the East Village section, of New York, Wednesday, April 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Meredith Goldberg)
The NYPD arrested suspected New York City subway attacker Frank James outside a Manhattan liquor store Wednesday after a security camera technician spotted him walking down the sidewalk in broad daylight.
Zak Dahhan, the witness who reported the sighting, told Fox News he was doing maintenance on a store’s cameras when he saw James walking in the busy East Village neighborhood with a bag over his shoulder.
He alerted police, and Ninth Precinct officers took James into custody without anyone else getting hurt.
New York City Police and law enforcement officials lead subway shooting suspect Frank R. James, 62, center, away from a police station, in New York, Wednesday, April 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Brooklyn shooting suspect Frank James will make his initial appearance in Brooklyn Federal Court on Thursday, April 14, according to U.S. Attorney's Office For the Eastern District of New York John Marzulli.
Marzulli said the timing of James' appearance has yet to be determined.
A law enforcement source tells Fox News Digital Brooklyn subway suspect Frank R. James reported himself to NYPD's Crime Stoppers Unit on Wednesday before he was arrested in Manhattan.
When asked about the Crime Stoppers call during Wednesday's press conference, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell told reporters: "There was a person who called Crime Stoppers we're reviewing who exactly made that call."
James has since been charged federally with one count of committing a terrorist or other violent attack against a mass transportation system, and faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Zack Dahhan
Zack Dahhan told Fox News that he was at work doing maintenance on a store’s cameras when he saw Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank James walking down the sidewalk with a bag over his shoulder.
Brooklyn shooting suspect Frank James arrested in Manhattan.
Photograph provided to Fox News Digital by a law enforcement source shows Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank James being arrested in Manhattan, N.Y. on Wednesday, April 13.
"Like all New Yorkers, I am deeply grateful that the suspect in yesterday's subway shooting has been apprehended and thankful for law enforcement and every first responder whose heroic efforts helped New York City respond to this horrific incident. I have directed all State agencies to provide every possible resource to assist in the investigation.
"My heart is with all those who are injured, their loved ones, and the entire Sunset Park community. The epidemic of gun violence that continues to terrorize communities across this country must end. My pledge to New Yorkers is this: I will fight every day to restore public safety, get guns off our streets, and prevent these horrific acts of violence."
NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said the gun used in the Brooklyn subway shooting on Tuesday was a 9mm Glock purchased by suspect Frank James in Ohio in 2011.
Police said they received a CrimeStopper tip that the Brooklyn subway shooting suspect was spotted at a McDonald’s on Sixth St. and First Ave in the Ninth Precint down on the Lowest East Side and East Village.
Officers responded to McDonald’s, did not see him, and began scouting the area. The suspect was eventually spotted on the corner of St. Marks and First St. and taken into custody without incident.
Frank James has been charged by complaint in Brooklyn federal court with one count of violating 18 USC section 1992 A7 and B one which prohibits terrorist and other violent attacks against mass transportation systems, police said.
He will be arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn and if convicted, he will face a sentence of up to life imprisonment.
Police say says Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank James was known to law enforcement and has ties to Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York City. He said James had an arrest history in New York and nine prior arrests dating from 1992 to 1998. Those included possession of burglarly tools, a criminal sex act, and theft of service. He also has three arrests in New Jersey: 1991, 1992, and 2007, for trespass, larceny, and disorderly conduct, police said.
"We got him," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams during a press conference on the arrest of Frank James, the suspect in Tuesday morning's Brooklyn subway shooting.
Sources told Fox News that Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank James is in custody.
Three people were killed and at least 12 others were wounded in a series of shootings across New York City Tuesday night, just hours after the early morning Brooklyn subway attack that prompted officials to again call for an end to surging gun violence plaguing the Big Apple.
A 23-year-old woman, and two young men, ages 21 and 22, were all shot to death in separate shootings in the Bronx Tuesday night. At least five other individuals, including a 15-year-old girl, were reportedly wounded by gunfire but survived across New York City over the course of a six-hour time span.
The violence happened hours after authorities say a man donned a gas mask, detonated a smoke grenade, and opened fire inside a train car and at the 36th St. station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, around 8:24 a.m. as commuters headed to work in Manhattan and children were on the way to school.
New York City may be rolling out new technology and periodic bag checks to prevent future terrorist attacks, according to the mayor.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams spoke with MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Wednesday about the previous day's terror attack on the city's subway system. The mayor touched on the possibility of new technology on public transportation to prevent similar acts in the future.
"With the gun detection devices – oftentimes when people hear of ‘metal detectors,’ they immediately think of the airport model," Adams said. "Those are not the only models that are available. There are new models that are being used at ball games or parks, hospitals, where you're not stopping to go through your belongings. You're simply walking through a device."
NYPD released a new wanted poster for Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank James
The FBI is investigating social media posts and videos investigators believe are linked to Frank James, the suspect being sought in Tuesday’s shooting in a Brooklyn subway, Fox News Digital has learned.
A senior law enforcement source told Fox News on Wednesday that some of James' posts were critical of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Fox News Digital viewed a string of rambling, profanity-laced YouTube videos in which a man who is apparently James decries the United States as a racist, violent place.
"This nation was born in violence, it’s kept alive by violence or the threat thereof and it’s going to die a violent death. There’s nothing going to stop that," James said in one video.
Despite some reporting from other sources, the law enforcement source said the FBI did not open a prior file on James out of New Mexico.
James remains on the loose and authorities are trying to track him down based on his prior contacts in Philadelphia and Wisconsin, according to the source. On Wednesday morning, Adams confirmed to Fox News that James was now the lone suspect in the attack.
New York City wireless users received an emergency alert about Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank James.
New York City wireless phone users received an emergency citywide alert Wednesday morning warning the public to be on the lookout for Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank James.
The emergency alert came through before 10:30 a.m. ET Wednesday.
“WANTED for Brooklyn Subway Shooting: Frank James, Black male, 62 years old. Any information can be directed to NYPD TIPS at 800-577-TIPS (8477),” the alert said.
The suspect remained on the lam more than 24 hours after authorities say he donned a gas mask, detonated a smoke grenade and opened fire inside a Manhattan-bound subway train and the 36th St. station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, just before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday during the morning commute. At least 29 people were injured, including 10 people who suffered gunshot wounds.
A law enforcement source confirmed to Fox News on Wednesday that Brooklyn subway shooting suspect Frank James purchased the gun used in the Tuesday morning attack at a pawn shop in Columbus, Ohio, in 2011.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is "confident" the suspect involved in the Brooklyn subway attack will be arrested as the manhunt continued Tuesday.
"I am confident that we're going to bring this suspect to justice, and we want to make sure that we do it as expeditiously as possible, so he would not cause any harm on fellow New Yorkers," Mayor Adams said on "America's Newsroom."
Frank James, who was previously considered a person of interest in the attack, is now a suspect in the case. Authorities have said James has an alarming presence online, categorized by a series of shocking and racist videos. He posted a series of profanity-ridden clips on YouTube ranting about race, politics, and current events.
"When you talk to folks [about] what happens to you in prison, it is what it is," James said in one video. "That’s why I’m never going to prison… I’m not connected, I don’t have nobody, [and] nobody has my m---------ing back."
Adams clarified James is not yet in police custody, and the motive for the attack is still under investigation. "We're still looking through and looking at all of his postings," Adams told hosts Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino. "We're conducting a very thorough investigation because the goal here is not only the arrest, but also prosecution."
NYU Langone said Wednesday that 16 patients treated in connection to the Brooklyn subway attack have been released, while the remaining five patients continue to be in stable condition.
A total of 29 people were injured in the attack, including 10 who suffered from gunshot wounds. The nature of the other injuries included smoke inhalation, shrapnel wounds and panic.
Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn is treating five patients, and NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital is treating three others.
Fox News’ Marta Dhanis contributed to this report.
NYPD new wanted post for Frank James, who police say fired numerous gun shots inside an "N" line subway car at the 36th St. and 4th Ave. subway station, causing serious injuries to 10 people.
The NYPD on Wednesday released a new wanted poster for Frank James, who is considered a suspect in the Brooklyn subway shooting attack Tuesday morning that left at least 29 people injured, including 10 people who suffered gunshot wounds. The new wanted poster was released Wednesday morning shortly after James' status was upgraded from a person of interest.
An NYPD source told Fox News that some on the subway photos in the new wanted poster were captured post attack. It's not clear where the photos were taken or if they were from the 36th St. subway station.
Fox News' Bryan Llenas contributed to this report.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday that Frank James, the man initially sought following the Brooklyn subway shooting, is now being considering a suspect.
New York City’s subway system announced full service has been restored Wednesday morning, including through the 36 St. station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, after NYPD completed its investigation.
“Good morning, New York. We're running full service on all of our lines after NYPD completed its investigation at 36 St in Brooklyn,” the agency tweeted just before 6 a.m. “B/W trains are running on their regular routes, and all D/N/R trains are stopping at 36 St. Thank you for riding with us.”
That means the station was back up and running less than 24 hours after authorities say a man donned a gas mask, detonated smoke grenades, and opened fire inside a subway car and onto the platform around 8:24 a.m. Tuesday. At least 29 people were injured, including ten suffering from gunshot wounds. Authorities are seeking a person of interest, identified as 62-year-old Frank R. James, though could not immediately confirm whether he was the suspected gunman.
The man accused of donning a gas mask, detonating smoke grenades and opening fire inside a New York City subway train and station in Brooklyn during Tuesday morning’s commute was known to the FBI, though had been cleared following multiple interviews in 2019, according to a report.
Newsweek first reported that 62-year-old Frank R. James, who is being sought by authorities as a person of interest in connection to the attack, had also been entered into the Guardian lead system, which is managed by the FBI, the Counterterrorism Division (CTD) and the Guardian Management Unit (GMU). Fox News has not yet independently verified the report.
Investigators have stressed they’re not sure whether Frank was responsible for the attack at the 36th St. station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. At least 29 people were injured, including ten individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. Children on their way to school were among those hurt.
Frank James, the man the NYPD identified as a person of interest in connection with the Brooklyn subway attack Tuesday morning, posted a string of antagonistic video rants to a YouTube channel for years.
Using titles like "DOMESTICATED AVERAGES" and "SENSIBLE VIOLENCE," James posted hour-long, profanity-laced rants about race, politics and current events. The banner image showed an alarm clock reading "Too Late."
"When you talk to folks [about] what happens to you in prison, it is what it is," he said in the "DOMESTICATED" video. "That’s why I’m never going to prison… I’m not connected, I don’t have nobody, [and] nobody has my m---------ing back."
Read more here: Brooklyn subway shooting: Person of interest Frank James posted racist rants to YouTube for years
Several children were among the dozens who were injured during a major shooting incident at a subway station in Brooklyn when a suspect fired at least 33 shots and used smoke grenades on the train, authorities said.
Juvenile victims, including a 12-year-old, were transported to Maimonides Hospital in varying conditions, following Tuesday’s violent attack that injured 29 victims, WABC reported.
The children were reported on their way to school when the attack occurred, officials said.
A 16-year-old victim suffered a hand injury in the attack and underwent an operation, officials said.
The juvenile’s recovery will take time, his surgeons said.
Read more here: Children among dozens of victims in New York subway shooting
Authorities released the name of a person of interest in the Brooklyn subway attack on Tuesday. They identified him as Frank James during an evening news briefing.
NYPD officials said they were looking for him to determine his connection to the attack that injured 28 people, including 10 people shot.
"We are looking to determine if he has any connection" to the attack, NYPD Chief of Detectives, James Essig, said.
He said James has addresses in Wisconsin and Philadelphia. Investigators were not sure of his ties to New York City.
A $50,000 reward is being offered for information regarding the shooting.
Read Tuesday's live updates here.
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