Accused New York City subway shooter Frank James pleads guilty to terrorism charges
A gunman accused of opening fire while riding a Brooklyn, New York, subway car in an attack that rattled commuters in the country's largest city pleaded guilty Tuesday to terrorism charges in federal court.
Frank R. James admitted he was responsible for the attack, which wounded 10 New York subway riders on April 12, 2022.
James, 63, wearing a beige jail jumpsuit and black-rimmed glasses, said he only intended to cause serious bodily injury, not death.
The accused shooter was arrested on April 13, following a massive 30-hour manhunt that ended when he called the police on himself and was arrested at a McDonald's. James had previously vowed to fight the charges.
He is scheduled to stand trial for the charges in late February.
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What did the shooter do?
During morning rush hour on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, the shooter opened fire inside a Manhattan-bound N train in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood.
During the attack, the shooter covered his face with a gas mask before setting off a pair of smoke grenades and then fired a barrage of random shots inside the train as it moved between stations, shooting 10 people on the train and on the platform.
The suspect, who was dressed as a maintenance worker, fled in the commotion, setting off a citywide manhunt.
At least 19 others were taken to hospitals for injuries ranging from smoke inhalation to shrapnel wounds; all survived.
Before the shooting, James, who is Black, posted dozens of videos online in which he ranted about race, violence and his struggles with mental illness. In some, he decried the treatment of Black people and talked about how he was so frustrated, "I should have gotten a gun and just started shooting." In one video, he appeared to be in a packed New York City subway car, raising his finger to point out passengers one by one.
What is Frank James charged with?
James' lawyers informed Judge William F. Kuntz II on Dec. 21 that he wanted to plead guilty to the 11 charges brought against him, without a plea agreement.
Ten of those charges — each one corresponding to a specific victim — accuse him of committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system carrying passengers and employees.
The 11th charge accuses James of discharging a firearm during a violent crime.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to court documents.
What did prosecutors say?
At the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Winik said James “intended to inflict maximum damage at the height of rush hour.”
Prosecutors had planned to ask the judge to go beyond the roughly 32-year to 39-year sentence that federal sentencing guidelines recommend.
Lawyers said James planned the attack for years and endangered the lives of dozens of people.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NYC subway shooter Franky James pleads guilty to terrorism charges
