A man opened fire in the New York subway on Tuesday April 12, injuring 23 people. He was arrested on Wednesday and will be prosecuted for “terrorist attack”.
The shooter was described by police as “a black man” about 1.65m tall, “heavy build”, wearing a “green and orange construction vest” and a gray hooded sweatshirt.
The first elements of the investigation seem to indicate that he premeditated his passage to the act. Investigators found at the scene of the shooting a firearm, a bag containing a small axe, two smoke bombs and fireworks, as well as a vehicle key. The latter allowed the police to trace a van from the American rental company U-Haul, recently rented and abandoned in Brooklyn.
This is Frank James who is a person of interest in this investigation. Any information can be directed to @NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/yBpenmsX67
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 12, 2022
Police had released photos of the individual who rented the van, Frank James, 62, without saying if he was the suspect. According to several media, this man, originally from Philadelphia, had published various videos on Youtube where he delivers long political tirades, sometimes virulent, in particular against the mayor of New York Eric Adams.
Scene of terror in a subway train
The facts took place Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. on line N of the New York subway, which connects the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn. Approaching the 36th Street station, the shooter donned a gas mask and threw two smoke grenades into the train, before opening fire on the passengers with a 9mm Glock.
pic.twitter.com/tje7V0OVHf
— Will B. Wylde (@IXIXI_45) April 12, 2022
Equipped with three high-capacity magazines, the man discharged his pistol 33 times. Horrified, the passengers rushed to the back of the car, trying in vain to escape in the next car whose door was blocked.
So this just happened #NYC
3 ppl shot. Suspect was dressed as an MTA employee. Used smoke bombs pic.twitter.com/dMiYQyKjFJ
— Will B. Wylde (@IXIXI_45) April 12, 2022
Arrived at the “36th Street” station, the victims of the attack rushed out of the car, from which thick smoke escaped.
In all, ten people were shot and 13 others were injured by falling or suffocating.
