Manhunt intensifies for Frank James, suspect in Brooklyn subway shooting
New York City police on Wednesday formally named Frank James as the suspect in the mass shooting that occurred on a crowded subway train in Brooklyn the day before.
James, 62, had been identified by police as a “person of interest” after keys from a U-Haul van that he rented in Philadelphia were found in the subway following the attack. The unoccupied van was later located in Brooklyn.
The NYPD released new photos of James, including stills from surveillance cameras outside the 36th Street subway station, where the shooting occurred.
A reward of up to $50,000 is being offered to find James, who police said had addresses in Wisconsin and Philadelphia.
While there is no known motive, police said James made social media posts referencing New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and that the mayor’s security detail was being tightened as a result.
A YouTube channel that appeared to belong to James contains numerous videos in which he ranted about gun violence and mass shootings as well as race issues. In one video uploaded on Monday, he said he had thought about killing people.
In another, he discussed a plan announced by Adams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to protect people on the city’s subway system.
“Their plan is doomed for failure,” James said.
Witnesses told police that as the train was pulling into the 36th Street station, James donned what appeared to be a gas mask, took two canisters out of his bag and opened them, filling the car with smoke. He then brandished a Glock 17 9-mm handgun, firing it at least 33 times, police said, before fleeing the station.
Police recovered a handgun, three magazines, two detonated smoke grenades, two nondetonated smoke grenades, a hatchet, a rolling cart, gasoline and the U-Haul keys at the scene.
Ten people were shot and an additional 13 people were injured in the chaos that followed, officials said. All are expected to survive.
One of the victims, 27-year-old Hourari Benkada, said he was sitting next to James on the train when the suspect set off a smoke grenade and opened fire.
Benkada said he was focused on helping a pregnant woman escape when he was shot in the back of the knee.
"I feel shocked, I feel shaky,” he told CNN in an interview from his hospital bed. “I don't know if I can ever ride a train."
