Topline
The 62-year-old man accused of going on a shooting spree in a crowded subway car in Brooklyn on Tuesday morning will be held in jail without bail, a judge ruled Thursday in the suspect’s first court appearance a day after his arrest.
Key Facts
Frank R. James showed up in federal court wearing a beige prison uniform, black eyeglasses and a blue surgical mask, Reuters reported, and the Associated Press says he only spoke to respond “yes” to standard questions.
He did not enter a plea and the judge did not bar a future bail application, WABC reported.
Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann said she will request “psychiatric attention” for James and supplements for his leg condition at the request of James' court-appointed lawyer, AP reported.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Winik said at the hearing that James “terrifyingly” attacked passengers on the Manhattan-bound N train, throwing smoke bombs and shooting at least 10 people, in an attack that spread terror in a way “the city hasn't seen in more than 20 years,” USA Today reported.
James was charged with a federal terrorism offense involving a mass transportation system, and if convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
What We Don’t Know
The motive for the assault, though he ranted in videos posted online that the United States “was born in violence” and criticized New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ policies addressing subway safety.
Key Background
James is accused of detonating two smoke grenades and firing 33 shots in a subway car approaching the 36th Street Station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The incident caused no fatalities. James was born and raised in New York City and recently lived in Wisconsin before moving to Philadelphia, AP reported. He was arrested on Wednesday in the East Village in Manhattan after a 30-hour manhunt involving hundreds of police officers. He reportedly called in the tip to Crime Stoppers that eventually led to his arrest. James was labeled a suspect in the shooting after several items discovered at the crime scene were traced back to him, including the gun used, a credit card with his name on it and keys to a rented U-Haul van, which investigators believe James drove from Philadelphia to Brooklyn.
Further Reading
Brooklyn Subway Shooting Suspect Called Tip Line On Himself (Forbes)
NYC Subway Shooting Suspect Frank James Arrested Thanks To Crime Stoppers Tip (Forbes)
