Brooklyn shooting update: Frank James ordered to be held behind bars in first federal court appearance
James, 62, is charged with terrorism on a mass transportation system over Tuesday’s Brooklyn subway attack
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Suspected terrorist Frank James appeared in Brooklyn federal court for the first time on Thursday where a judge ordered him to be held behind bars until his trial and his lawyers requested he undergo a psychological exam.
Mr James, 62, is charged with terrorism on a mass transportation system over Tuesday’s Brooklyn subway attack where he allegedly shot 10 people before going on the run for 30 hours.
The suspect was finally arrested in Manhattan’s East Village on Wednesday afternoon when he called CrimeStoppers himself to tell police he was at a nearby McDonald’s.
Officers descended on the fast food joint to find him gone, before taking him into custody nearby along St. Mark’s Place and First Avenue.
Mr James is accused of injuring around 30 people in Tuesday morning’s rush hour attack in Sunset Park.
The gunman donned a gas mask on a packed N train travelling to Manhattan and opened a gas canister, before opening fire as the train travelled into 36 Street station.
His motive remains unclear but disturbing YouTube videos show Mr James ranting about Mayor Eric Adams, the subway system and NYC’s mental health system.
White House will provide New York with ‘anything they need’ to help track down gunman
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that President Joe Biden has not yet spoken with New York City Mayor Eric Adams over Tuesday’s subway attack but had promised to provide New York officials with “anything they need” to track down the gunman.
Ms Psaki told reporters on board Air Force One on Tuesday that federal agencies “would assist in every appropriate way” and provide “anything they want” in order to help the investigation.
“Anything they need, anything they want, we are here to provide that to them,” she added.
She added that the investigation into the shooting is a local matter and is being overseen by the NYPD’s counterterrorism unit together with the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
However, she stressed that White House officials are in contact with both the mayor and the NYPD commissioner.
29 victims hospitalised across the city
The number of victims injured in Tuesday’s attack continues to climb as more information becomes available, with at least 29 now confirmed to be hospitalised across the city.
A total of 21 people are being treated at NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn. All patients are said to be in a stable condition with injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to smoke inhalation.
Three patients are currently being treated at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital - one for a gunshot wound, one for a fracture and one for non-trauma-related injuries.
Five victims are being treated at Maimonides Health in Brooklyn - two for either shrapnel or gunshot wounds and three for smoke inhalation.
Police searching for U-Haul van with Arizona licence plates in connection to subway shooting
The NYPD are said to be searching for a U-Haul van with Arizona licence plates in connection to the subway shooting suspect.
Anyone with tips is asked to call the NYPD tipline at 800-577-TIPS
Gun, magazines, fireworks and smoke canisters recovered from scene
A gun, multiple high capacity magazines and a backpack full of fireworks and smoke canisters were all recovered from the scene of the subway shooting.
Law enforcement sources told CNN that the trove of items was discovered in 36 Street station after the attack.
Lives saved by gun magazine jamming during attack
The magazine in the subway shooter’s gun jammed during Tuesday morning’s attack, according to law enforcement sources - a chance circumstance that likely saved lives and prevented the gunman from shooting more victims.
The suspect, who has not been identified, appears to have been planning to carry out a larger attack as several high capacity magazines and a backpack full of smoke canisters and fireworks were recovered from the scene.
‘Malfunction’ in subway camera system hampers hunt for gunman
A “malfunction” in the camera system in 36 Street subway station may have hampered the manhunt for the gunman who wounded at least 28 in Tuesday morning’s shooting rampage.
Mayor Eric Adams told WCBS Radio on Tuesday afternoon that a preliminary investigation had found that “there appeared to be some sort of malfucntion” with the camera system in the part of the station where the attack took place.
“We are communicating with the MTA to find out was it throughout the entire station or if it was it just one camera,” he said.
Police find image of suspect on bystander cellphone video
Investigators have managed to track down an image of the subway shooting suspect on a bystander’s cellphone video, a law enforcement source told ABC News.
The still of the suspect is so far the only confirmed picture of the assailant after it emerged the subway camera system was down in the station at the time of the attack.
The photo has not been shared and the NYPD are yet to identify the suspect.
Mayor Eric Adams pushes back on comments that attack wasn’t terrorism
Mayor Eric Adams has pushed back against comments made by NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell that the attack on New York City’s subway system was not an act of terrorism.
The commissioner said during a Tuesday morning press conference with New York officials that the incident was not being investigated as a terrorist attack but that the motive remained unclear.
When asked about these comments on WCBS Radio on Tuesday afternoon, the mayor said it was clear the perpetrator wanted “to create terror in our subway system and that is not acceptable”.
“Based on the preliminary investigation, someone intentionally determined to create terror in our subway system and attack our passengers,” he said.
“Once we apprehend that person and investigate, we will determine what is their source and their reason they carried out the act.
“But we will not remove the fact that they attempted to create terror with a smoke device to create smoke, with weapons discharged at innocent New Yorkers so once we apprehend the person, we will be able to identify what was the reason behind it.
“But one thing is clear: there was a goal to create terror in our subway system and that is not acceptable.”
NY AG Letitia James says it is a ‘dark day for New York'
New York Attorney General Letitia James described Tuesday as a “dark day for New York” and called the shooting in the city’s subway system “heartbreaking”.
“This is a dark day for New York. The mass shooting in Brooklyn this morning is heart breaking, and I’m praying for every single New Yorker who was injured and impacted,” she tweeted.
“I’m urging anyone with any information about what happened this morning to contact @NYPDnews.”
Questions mount over how gunman got away
Questions are mounting over how the gunman managed to get away from the scene of the shooting as officials admitted that the subway camera system was down in the station at the time and trains were not immediately shuttered in the aftermath of the shooting.
Anonymous NYPD sources claimed the suspect’s escape may have been enabled by a police error, with Rolling Stone reporting that a local duty captain from Brooklyn South patrol reportedly did not freeze all trains in and out of the station, where trains on the N, R and D lines transfer.
The NYPD disputed the report, calling it “factually inaccurate” and that “speculation, especially in the middle of a crisis, is not helpful”.
But they appeared to confirm that trains were not stopped by adding: “The victims on the train relied on the subway moving to the next stop to get to safety, and seek help.”
When asked why trains were not shut down immediately in an effort to catch the suspect, NYPD’s deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism, John Miller, told reporters: “That’s not the case”.
The Independent’s Justin Vallejo has the full story:
Security cameras ‘down’ at Brooklyn station amid questions over how gunman got away
Authorities search for U-haul as NYPD defends decision to keep subway trains running to next station after shooting; potenitally aiding the gunman’s escape
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.